Comet Atlas over Italy at its maximum splendor: the most beautiful images

There comet Tsuchinshan-Atlasnicknamed “the comet of the century”, is visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere and is providing a breathtaking celestial spectacle that it will last until October 21st. Discovered in January 2023, this comet, which has a nucleus of approximately 20-40 kilometers, is particularly special because survived its close passage to the Sun on September 27, 2024.

This type of astronomical event is rare and it only occurs once or twice in a century. For those who want to observe it, the best time is just after sunsetaround 7pm, looking towards the horizon west-southwest.

The scientific interest in Tsuchinshan-Atlas lies in the fact that comes from the Oort clouda remote region of the solar system. Astronomers are studying its tail of dust and gas for obtain information about primordial matter that formed the solar system. This material offers a rare opportunity to better understand the origin of planets and comets.

Today it will reach its peak brightness

The comet will initially appear low, but in the following days it will progressively rise, although starting to decrease in brightness as it moves away from Sun. It will reach its peak brightness today, when its dust tail will be particularly noticeable thanks to the passage of the Earth through its orbital plane.

But how can we see it well? For optimal observation, it is advisable to go to a location with a unobstructed view of the horizonpreferably away from light pollution of cities. It is not necessary to wait for complete darkness: the comet is most visible at twilight, slightly to the left of the sunset point.

Although observable with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience, allowing you to better appreciate the details of the luminous tail of the comet. Those who won’t be able to see it live can follow the event in streaming thanks to projects such as the Virtual Telescope Project. Alternatively, we leave you some images of those who have already been lucky enough to see it.