TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Astronomical Museum has highlighted some exciting celestial events happening in October, including the year's brightest comet and a supermoon.
The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) comet (C/2023 A3) will be at its closest point to Earth on Oct. 12. It is expected to reach a magnitude of 2.5, making it the brightest comet of the year, per CNA.
On Oct. 17, there will be a supermoon. Coinciding with the full moon phase, the moon will appear larger and brighter than usual.
The full moon will occur at 7:26 p.m. This supermoon will be approximately 14% larger than the smallest full moon observed this year.
Originally discovered by China’s Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) in January 2023, the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet was later rediscovered by the ATLAS. The ATLAS is an asteroid detection system founded by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), per NASA.
It is operated by the University of Hawaii (UH) Institute for Astronomy (IfA), serving as an early warning system for potential asteroid impacts on Earth, according to Harvard University. The comet has an extremely long orbital period, estimated to be tens of thousands of years.
This makes it a rare sight, and the Taipei Astronomical Museum notes that it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it. The comet can be observed in the western sky after sunset until the end of October, and binoculars or small telescopes are recommended for the best viewing experience.
The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet reached its closest point to the Sun on Sept. 28. In the days following Sept. 28, the comet will be briefly visible in the low eastern sky before sunrise, according to the Taipei Astronomical Museum.
From Oct. 2-12, the comet will be difficult to observe due to its proximity to the Sun. It is predicted that the best time to observe and photograph the comet will be before the end of October.
The museum will be hosting a special lecture on comet photography at 2 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 6). The lecture will provide the latest information on the comet's path and offer advice on how to take beautiful pictures of the comet with basic equipment.
Starting on the evening of Oct. 14, another celestial event will occur as Saturn and the moon appear close together in the sky. Around 3 a.m. Oct. 15, they will be in conjunction.
In some regions, such as Africa and India, a lunar occultation of Saturn will be visible. The moon will pass in front of Saturn, blocking it from view.