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Ephemeris: 10/18/2024 – Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS can barely compete with the bright Moon

October 18, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Friday, October 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 6:52, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:04. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 7:21 this evening.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible by 8:00 PM in the west-southwest. It’s a bit higher than it was last night and tomorrow night it’ll be a bit higher still. It also is fading and must also compete with the bright moonlight. It is the brightest comet that we’ve seen around here this century. We’ve been looking forward to this comet for more than a year and a half, since it’s discovery in January of last year. Comets were not always objects to look forward to. In ancient times when they suddenly appeared, they struck fear. They were thought to portend disasters. In fact the word disaster means ill-starred. The word comet basically comes from the Latin meaning hairy star. The Chinese had a similar name for them, they called them broom stars.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

An animated finder chart for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS for four nights from tonight the 18th through Monday night the 21st. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS at 9:03 PM last evening
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS at 9:03 PM last evening,. photographed from my backyard. Compare it to yesterday’s photograph from on yesterday’s post . Even though the sky was clearer the comet was definitely dimmer. I could not see it with my unaided eyes . However, it did show up in binoculars, barely competing with the bright moonlit sky. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created by the author.
Categories: Comet, Ephemeris Program, Observing Tags: