Could a bright comet also be seen over Austria? – 5 minutes

One of the brightest comets of the past centuries, Zouchenshan Atlas, is currently approaching. If all goes well, it can be seen with the naked eye within a few days.

from Philip Plattner

2 minutes reading time(388 words)

There's a real looming sensation in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere, where Comet Tsuchenshan Atlas can be clearly seen with the naked eye in just a few days. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, things have already reached this point, as posts on “X” (“formerly Twitter”) show. The comet's appearance and visibility are impressive.

It is possible to see Comet “Atlas Zochenschan” in Austria next October

As the Salzkammergut Astronomical Working Group explains, the comet could become visible in the evening sky in Austria in October and become one of “the most beautiful and brightest comets of the last few decades.” It was discovered in January 2023, but with such “newly discovered” comets, anything is possible. It is currently close to the Sun, and will likely not survive this close proximity to the Sun and disintegrate, according to experts from Upper Austria.

Where the comet “Tsouchenshan Atlas” will be seen.

However, if not, it will move towards Earth. It will reach its closest point to Earth on October 12, at a distance of about 70 million kilometers. However, as of October 10, it should also appear to us in Austria in the evening sky low on the horizon to the west. “Every day it will be higher above the horizon, but soon it will become weaker again as it rapidly moves away from Earth. “We all hope that the comet will meet expectations and perhaps become a nice-looking comet like Comet West in 1975,” hopes the Salzkammergut Astronomical Working Group.

The best way to see the comet “Zochenshan Atlas”.

Experts advise looking for a location with a very low view to the west. The comet will set at approximately 7:44 pm on October 12, so the comet will only be seen at dusk for about an hour. “For a successful search, it is important to have a very good view of the horizon and a very clear sky, but what is crucial is how bright the comet is. The fall of the comet occurs approximately in the west, near the point of sunset,” explains the Astronomische Arbeiterkreis Salzkammergut website. , it is believed that the comet will always be visible for 15 minutes in the following days if it “escapes” the Sun.