UPDATE on COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS

[@GONZOFAM7]

I could not see it naked eye last night. I pointed my camera and it picked it up. I adjusted settings and kept shooting. I came up with a few shots I really liked.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Excellent. It's starting to fade especially dimming as it reaches the horizon and you have to look through so much atmosphere but I was able to see it naked eye again. So wonderful to see. Well, at least you got some good shots.

[@janithchandrasena]

I shot it 4 nights in a row and still can't get enough of it! Great video as always. ☄☄

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Thank you. I really enjoyed looking at this beautiful comet and I'm glad you got to see and photograph it too. Cheers.

[@nevyoung868]

So pleasantly presented. I photographed several times in the South African suburban dawn sky, but circumstances have not yet allowed me to capture it at dusk. Clouds appear to be dissipating, so hoping for success. Thank you for that update.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Thank you. I hope you have a successful outing.

[@MrGp3po]

I've been shooting the comet every evening since October 10th. Its been naked eye up until tonight. But the past couple nights have had bands of interfering clouds. Still very cool to see.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

It was a very cool comet with that long beautiful tail. Glad you got to shoot if and see it for so long.

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Thanks for your videos about this comet … you inspired me to get out there and try to capture an image which I managed last Thursday, October 17th. I used my trusty little Fuji X100V on a tripod, 23 mm, f2, ISO 1000 and 4 seconds with a filter that cuts down artificial light. I’m pretty happy with the result so thanks again! I must have taken about 60 snaps. Half way during that series of snaps, I realized that despite having used manual focus and turning the lens ring to infinity, the stars were not sharp! I backed the focus ring back a smidge and that brought everything into sharp focus. So nice to see a deep star field behind the comet and its long tail. I could only see the comet with binoculars and that super moon wasn’t helping but it was all a sight to remember. 2024 has certainly been a year for memorable astronomical events! Dark skies forever! 🔭📷🌝

[@tsulasbigadventures]

So glad you got to see it with binoculars and to get some good photos of the comet. I should have mentioned in the last video that I always use manual focus by pointing the camera first to a bright star, in this case Arcturus, and making Arcturus or other bright star as small as possible in the view finder and then swing back to the comet and start taking test photos to see if the stars are pin points. I'm glad you got it worked out. For my camera setting focus to infinity would not be in focus for the stars or the comet. Every camera is different but getting good focus makes all the difference. Dark skies to you also!

[@latashathomas9999]

I saw it here in Sunbury Pa last night!! It was beautiful ❤️

[@tsulasbigadventures]

That's wonderful you got to see it. I'm going outside right now to see if I can see it myself. Cheers!

[@lindafinch8983]

Hi Tsula, No luck here in Belgium, locked in by cloud! I’ve tried each time there’s been an opening, but sadly no comet for me. I have enjoyed some stars and a glimpse of Saturn, while out there, so at least that was something! I hope the cloud goes soon, so I can enjoy the meteors at least. Great sketch and thanks for the info update 🤗🌙✨

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Hi Lynn: Aw. I'm sorry you have missed seeing this awesome comet. I was all ready to watch the meteor shower last night despite the bright moon and then huge clouds swooped in here as well and I only saw one meteor before the whole sky was covered and I gave up. Oh well. Thank you, about the sketch. No one said anything so I was starting to think it was really bad. So, thank you.

[@danithemoongoddess]

So cool . I caught a picture of it on my iPhone. I was in awe

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Nice! I was in awe also and couldn't stop looking at it. Glad you got to see it too.

[@brodymk45]

I’ve seen it with my naked eye every night since the 15th in my bortle 5. It is great! My first ever naked eye comet! Hope to see many more in my life.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

I have really enjoyed looking at it also every night except the night it snowed. You will definitely see more comets but I'm not sure if there will ever be one as spectacular as Hale-Bopp but we'll see!

[@brodymk45]

@@tsulasbigadventures Yea that would be great. I never saw hale-bopp so I have no idea how bright it was but from all the stories i’ve heard, it sounds like it was very bright.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

@@brodymk45 I took my parents to Yosemite National Park and we stood in a parking lot outside out hotel and watched it stunned and amazed. I will never forget it as long as I live. It was as bright as Sirius.

[@brodymk45]

@@tsulasbigadventures Thats incredible! I hope to see a comet that bright.

[@waltergold3457]

2:55 - nice shot!

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Thanks. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to get that shot.

[@waltergold3457]

@@tsulasbigadventures You had to stand there for a while, like someone posing for an old-fashioned photograph, to get the exposure right?

[@tsulasbigadventures]

@@waltergold3457 Correct and make sure I was pointing at the comet.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Tsula.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Hi Ron: Thanks for watching.

[@ptonpc]

Cloud cover here most of the time where I am in Scotland.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

That's a shame. It was cloudy for me last night too but I feel lucky I got to see it so well when it was much brighter. Maybe this other comet, ATLAS S1, will brighten after it reaches perihelion.

[@hooblajoobla173]

Very interesting 😁 i live in Scotland with no chance of seeing anything ..your video is appreciated

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Thank you! I'm sorry the weather isn't cooperating in Scotland.

[@kittenkorleone2918]

10/22 Fairfield county connecticut. Lots of city lights here but I can see it fine in binoculars. Longer tail than the comer I saw in the mid nineties.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

That's wonderful you can still see it in binoculars with lots of city lights. Finally it's clear tonight and I will try again myself. The comet in the mid-nineties, Hale-Bopp, was much brighter than Tsuchinshan but yes, I think this tail is longer.

[@DiscipleofHim]

With the aid of field glasses I was able to locate the cosmic fleeting body two nights in a row. Without the binoculars the sighting was not viewable. South Lyon Mich...

[@jackjennings6143]

First comet ive imaged! havent managed to see it by eye, but got a timelapse of it :)

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Nice! It's so great to see it by eye. I hope you get a chance to do so.

[@michaelsatterfield6541]

Awesome sketch.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Thank you!

[@SteveEvansFilms]

I got it last night, here in the UK, whilst battling 40mph winds. I couldn't see it with my naked eye but I got it on my camera.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Oh my goodness. The weather sounds so awful in the UK. Every time someone posts comments on my channel from the UK it's something to do with the dreadful weather. Well, at least you got some photos with your camera.

[@bradmiller3557]

Ms. Tsula, love your show and advice. I’ve been searching for Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) the past few days, but being in Frisco Tx there’s too much light pollution to see the comet, even with binoculars. This said, mine are only 10x32 by Vortex. I scanned the sky with my NexStar 8SE in the comet’s general location using Sky Safarie Pro, but no bueno. So, I went to viewing other objects, like Saturn. Here’s my question for the expert. My scope uses the stock red dot star finder, you know the super cheap one. It’s very difficult to use the darn thing if you’re viewing the upper sky’s. Do you have a recommendation for a finder scope that you don’t have to lay down on the ground to use?

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Hi Brad: Thank you! I'm sorry you didn't see the comet. I viewed it from a much darker site than Frisco is, I guess, but found the comet with just a pair of 10x42 binoculars and to get it in my telescope I looked up the RA and Dec and entered those coordinates in the user object section of the hand controller and my telescope (it's an Orion single fork arm but works exactly like the Celestron NexStar), went right to the comet. But to your question, I think you would need to replace the super cheap red dot finder with a right angle finder scope. I personally prefer the reflex sight finder scopes but they would require you to get low just like a red dot finder; it's just that they are much sturdier than those cheap red dot finders. But to avoid having to lie on the ground I would recommend that you get at least a 7x50 right angle finder. I like correct image ones but that's just my preference. I have a right angle correct image and a red dot finder on my Dobsonian. The right angle one is made by Astromania but there are many brands. I hope that helps. Doesn't Celestron claim that you don't need the finder once you get it aligned? I tested a NexStar once and found I very much needed a finder scope! Take care and good luck.

[@bradmiller3557]

@@tsulasbigadventures Thank you very much for your quick response. Given my current location, it's difficult to triangulate between 3 objects because of the houses and trees. My fault, I just need to head to the country more often. Tonight, I didn't align the scope, just slewed the telescope about in hopes I'd run across it. I was a bit too late getting it set up and had to walk down the alley to find a clearing between the trees and housetops, ha. I did get to see Saturn but had to chase it around since I didn't align the scope. I'll try one of the right angle finders you mentioned and let you know how it works out. I most graciously appreciate your time. Have a great evening, Brad.

[@djayvanmun7646]

I'm here in germany 22 oktober and I can't see it sadly i have been waiting all month to see it

[@peterlewis3540]

Thankfully i saw it, and photographed it, last Thursday evening, from the head of the Great Orme, here in llandudno. Last Thursday, was the only clear evening, the entire week, as the weather conditions have been useless for comet gazing. The weather continues to be useless, as there is simply too much cloud cover after sunset Its been like that since the 12th October, and the weather has been poor ever since.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Well, at least you got the one day last Thursday to photograph the comet. Llandudno looks beautiful!

[@texassalt8999]

Here in Texas we see it right after sunset when the sky is still lit up. I've gotten a few nice pictures! I saw 2 comets on the 19th after sunset, does anyone know what the 2nd one is?

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Glad you got to see Comet Tsuchinshan. The only other comet I am aware of currently is not visible in the Northern Hemisphere at this time: Comet ATLAS S1 will reach perihelion on October 28, 2024 (mag -5) and make closest approach to Earth October 23, 2024 (mag 8.9) but will only be observeable in the Southern Hemisphere before perihelion and in Northern Hemisphere after perihelion.

[@JoeJaguar]

i made a video on oct/17 and i could not see it with my eyes but the moon was 1 days before full. i saw it with my phone and my 4" f5 refractor with a 56mm ep. It was ok but not great to me. i tried last night again with no moon and just my phone and a tripod. I didnt see anything UNTILL i edited my pics at home then i just noticed it but it was no where near the 17th image. $ days made a big difference. in 3 days i will be at the zone 2 but if its keeps getting this dim this fast it may be disappointing. cheers.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Sorry it didn't work out for you. The comet has dimmed substantially but I can still see it from my Bortle 3. So, I hope it holds up until you get to the zone 2. Cheers

[@analog_guy]

Had a nice clear night last night, Oct 21, but I could not see the comet with the naked eye due to city lights at my location. However, it was still prominent when viewed with binoculars. It was also prominent when viewed with a night vision device.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Excellent. So glad you got to see it with your night vision device. I was clouded out last night and missed it.

[@analog_guy]

@@tsulasbigadventures So sorry about your clouds last night. I'm not sure why the night vision device enhances the visual contrast of the comet when the scattered light from the atmosphere is bright enough for me to see with my naked eyes. Perhaps the comet tail reflects more near-infrared from the sunlight, as compared to less infrared from the city lights? The sensitivity of the night vision device extends into near-infrared. Or perhaps the brightness perception of the human eye changes as a different function of absolute brightness at any given wavelength as compared to that of the photocathode.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

@@analog_guy I'm not an expert but the latter sounds more plausible because of the human eye's lower sensitivity in general.

[@elmercoblentz9432]

Found it tonight. Very surprised how visible it was. Expect a much smaller one.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Excellent! I was also surprised tonight to see the comet naked eye with the comet starting to fade away. Glad you got to see it.

[@brha5058]

Do you live anywhere near Mule Creek Junction? I live just east of there. I, too, saw it with my naked eye. Was a huge comet. Sunday evening, there were clouds in the way.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Is that in Wyoming? I live about a three hour drive from the border with Wyoming. The comet was huge and beautiful. Glad you got to see it too.

[@brha5058]

@@tsulasbigadventures Mule Creek Junction is on the border with S. Dakota. 33 miles south of Newcastle, WY where Hwy 85 meets Hwy 18 coming out of S. Dakota. Update: I saw it again tonight, Oct 21. Skies were clear. Visible to the naked eye. Used ship binoculars, 25 mm X 100 mm. Also, a smaller pair 12X50. I live on the latitude 43.5 degrees.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

@@brha5058 Oh OK. That is very far away from me and that would explain why you could see the comet again last night. Here it was completely overcast and windy too and I saw nothing. Boo hoo. Oh my goodness those are big binoculars you have. If you don't mind my asking what do you mount those huge binoculars on?

[@atywani2210]

How long will this comet be visible?

[@tsulasbigadventures]

You will be able to see the comet into December 2024 but it will get dimmer and dimmer and you will need a telescope to see it. I saw it with my naked eye on October 25. That was the last time I could see it naked eye. But it was cloudy after that. So, I'm not sure but it is moving away from us rapidly.

[@terry58501]

I just tried from Central North Dakota and despite a clear sky, I couldn't find it.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

I went outside after dinner tonight from my rural home in Montana and I found it with my binoculars and once I knew where it was I could see it with my naked eyes. It's easier to see once it gets dark after Venus has set and Arcturus has set. You can still try but once the comet gets low in the sky you will be looking through a lot of atmosphere. The window is after it gets dark but before the moon rises. Try again tomorrow. Do you have the app, Stellarium, on your phone? It will show you where to look.

[@terry58501]

@@tsulasbigadventures Sadly I work nights so my opportunities to view the sky are limited. I don't know if I'll be able to go tomorrow night.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

@@terry58501 Aw. That's too bad. Well, there will be more comets in the future and I hope you get to see them when they come. Take care.

[@trabensburg]

Recheck moon rise facts. It's almost an hour... not 30 minutes.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

OK. The moon rises 30-50 minutes later each night depending on the time of year.

[@RefractorGuy]

My refractor is longer

[@tsulasbigadventures]

How long is your refractor?