Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) is a long-period comet discovered in early 2023 by the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and the ATLAS survey project in Hawaii. It has drawn attention for its potential to become a bright object in the sky as it approaches the Sun. The comet’s path took it closest to the Sun (perihelion) in late September 2024, making it visible from Earth, especially in the southern hemisphere, and giving it a spectacular appearance. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, and I captured it with two different optical instruments. The comet was very close to the sun, and two tails were visible on this specific day. The primary large tail is made of dust particles, which are frozen in the comet and evaporated by the sun. The secondary tail is on the other hand created by the UV light, which ionizes the gas blown off the comet, and the solar wind carries these ions straight out from the Sun to form the ion tail, which typically glows blue. This is exactly, what is visible on the following picture:

TelescopeAskar ACL200
Aperture50 mm
Focal length200 mm
MountiOptron HEM15
AutoguidingZWO ASI485MC, QHY Mini Guide Scope
CameraZWO 6200MC @0°C
Exposure8x60s, Gain 100, bin 1×1,
Date2024-10-01
LensSigma 40 mm Art
Focal ratio F 1.4
Focal length40 mm
MountTripod
CameraSony A7III astro-modified
ISO1600
Exposure158x5s
Date2024-10-01