Jun 032024
Here’s the June update on the approaching comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). It looks like I will need to offset the comet in future images to make sure I get the entire tail. The comet is well placed for observing. It is in the currently in the constellation Virgo and crosses the meridian around 2000 CDT.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS)[CV:1x60s]
As the orbit illustration shows, the comet is still outside Mars’ orbit and now approaching the plane of the solar system for a crossing on the 6th of Aug. It is still on track for a perihelion on the 27th of Sep 2024.
C/2023 A3’s orbit.
(Graphic courtesy of the JPL Small-Body Database Browser)