Passing comet turns Bengaluru skies pink, green, and yellow
Bengaluru's skyline has turned into a stunning canvas of pink, green, and yellow colors thanks to a passing comet. At first, people thought it was some kind of atmospheric glitch or iridescent cloud formation, but it has now become a hot topic of discussion. Social media is buzzing with images and videos of this colorful display.
Comet C/2023 A3 behind the colorful display
The Hindu spilled the beans on the source of these colorful lights—it's Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which is currently cruising past Earth. Unlike the more predictable Halley's Comet, this non-periodic comet is known for its surprise appearances. The sighting of this specific comet over Bengaluru has given sky-watchers a rare chance to catch its breathtaking show.
A rare visitor to our solar system
Astrophysicist RC Kapoor called non-periodic comets like C/2023 A3 "virtual outsiders to our solar system," since we hardly get to see them due to their irregular orbits. Some skywatchers reported spotting the comet as a streak of light, while others noticed its influence on cloud formations, adding to the iridescent glow. Kapoor also noted that this comet will keep dazzling us in the morning sky throughout early October.
Here's when to view it
Kapoor said, "From October 12, it will be possible to view in the west soon after sunset. It will then be passing by the Earth at its closest, when it is expected to be visible by the unaided eye." The comet, discovered on January 9, 2023, by China's Purple Mountain Observatory, has generated significant interest on social media with stunning images of this celestial event being shared widely.
Comet's journey and potential visibility in Hyderabad
Astrophotographer Upendra Pinnelli shared, "The comet is visiting the Solar System after more than 80,000 years. It is approximately 129.6 million kilometers away from Earth and is currently located in the Sextans constellation." According to Deccan Chronicle, residents of Hyderabad may have a chance to witness this comet until October 2.
Visibility in Australia and New Zealand
Jonti Horner from The Conversation shared some cool details about the comet's visibility. He mentioned that right now, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is visible to the naked eye in the morning sky over Australia and New Zealand. The comet will stay high in the morning sky until about September 30, after which it'll start getting closer to the horizon each morning until it vanishes into the dawn's glare around October 6 or 7.
