Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS dazzles stargazers in Norway

A massive, icy snowball of frozen gas and dust is currently racing through space at over 100,000 kilometers per hour, in relative proximity to Earth. This comet, known as C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is estimated to be about 2 kilometers in diameter, according to an astrophysicist at the University of Oslo.

On Monday evening, several amateur photographers ventured outside to capture images of the comet, a sight never before witnessed from Earth. Among them was Øivind Boge, a nature photographer of ten years, who made the trek to Gråkallen Mountain in Trondheim specifically to photograph the comet. He expressed his excitement, stating, “This is the first time I’ve seen a comet and managed to get a picture of one. I was very pleased.”

The comet is believed to have originated from the outskirts of the heliosphere, the region influenced by the Sun’s gravity. This is the first and last time it will visit our planet before it eventually exits the heliosphere and ventures into interstellar space. The comet is currently located approximately 75 million kilometers from Earth, which astronomically is considered close.

It can be seen with the naked eye, and a video compiled from 150 still images was taken by photographer Jørn Tømmerås. The comet has been particularly visible across Norway, with the last comparable visibility observed during the passage of comet McNaught in 2007.

Stargazers have only a few days to enjoy the view, as it will be visible to the naked eye for about a week before fading as it moves away from the Sun and Earth. For optimal viewing, experts recommend looking toward the west about an hour and a half after sunset. Although the comet is slightly more visible in southern Norway, the differences in sighting conditions for those in northern regions are minimal.