C/2023 A3 (ATLAS) is arriving: it will reach perihelion on September 27, 2024 and could be a spectacle in Earth’s skies. We asked the amateur astronomer and science communicator Nunzio Micale, head of the project, for details on this extraordinary celestial object (also known as the ‘comet of the century’). :
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“A few months ago I told you about comet C/2023 A3 (ATLAS), and we left with the hope that this hairy body could become spectacular, given its significant rate of dust production. According to predictions, it was destined to become an object to remember. However, the experience with comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) – designated the “comet of the century” – taught me, when I was a kid, that it is always better to be wary of these big headlines, and learn to consult the real data . At the moment, the comet is in the dawn light, low on the horizon, approaching perihelion, expected on September 27. As it gets closer to the Sun, its magnitude is expected to drop to +2.1 (currently around +4) in early October, recent photometric measurements indicate. Unless there is a “surprise” with a sudden growth in powder production, and to avoid misunderstandings and headlines, it will be visible in October. It will be best seen with cameras, binoculars and telescopes, and perhaps even a little with the naked eye. In the meantime, enjoy this shot of the comet from the International Space Station, taken by astronaut Matthew Dominick. He shared a post on But with a 200mm f/2 lens and 1/8s exposure, you can really start to see it. This comet will create some really beautiful images as it gets closer to the Sun. For now, a preview of the timelapse.”
Here is the ATLAS, taken from !
Cover image credit S. Deiries / ESO
