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C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion27 Sep 20242.80.391 AU0.908 AU10h46m-06°03'23.0°92.1°260°
Today8 Oct 2024-3.10.493 AU0.509 AU12h46m-03°16'4.2°171.5°315°
Nearest approach12 Oct 20240.40.556 AU0.472 AU14h07m-01°04'15.2°151.8°64°

Binocular prohibition iconDo NOT attempt to observe a comet near the sun. Doing so may cause permanent eye damage or blindless!
Observing in daylight should only be done by those who have proper expertise and equipment to do so safely.

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)- 2024-10-08
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

The orbital elements of C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) are: 

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000940
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3914110
            i (Inclination)                 : 139.11050
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 21.55950
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 308.49370
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 65.10887
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -30.81995
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460581.24080

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 07
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-TD8

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (6.50 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 6.30 + 5 log[∆] + 7.97 log[r]). The additional green curve shows the effect of forward scattering, occurring when the comet is between the earth and the sun, for a gas-to-dust light ratio δ90 of 0.50. (See Marcus 2007)


The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.