Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

[Bill S]

I've had no chance to observe comet 12P but I have been looking for a few others. Last night I looked at 2023 A3 . Here's a snapshot. At least there is a hint of a tail.

Mag 11. Still 3 AU from Sun. Possible bright comet in the future. Around October 2024. Mag 0 or better. I'll believe it when it happens. Watch this space...

 

[PeterC65]

I've also missed 12P as it's below my local horizon when it's dark, but C/2023 A3 is well positioned for me so I have made a note to give it a try. What kit where you using to get this image?

 

[Bill S]

Peter, I was using an f/5 200 mm Newtonian with a 0.5x focal reducer making the scope about f/3.5. Lodestar X2 camera. All mounted on an HEQ5 Pro. Software was Starlight Live for capture and Jocular for live stacking and stretching etc. The snapshot I showed is 3 x 15 S. Sky brightness SQM was was 19.90 so Bortle 5.

[PeterC65]

That's the scope I would be using. Interesting that you use a reducer with it. I had a cheap and cheerful x0.5 reducer for a while (this one) but it badly distorted the stars in the outer 50% of the FoV. I used it with my 72mm refractor for widefield as I didn't have the Newtonians at the time. What reducer do you have? Can you reach focus OK using it with the 8" Newtonian?

 

[Geoff Lister]

12P was too low for me too, so I moved up and left and managed 13P with my Seestar S50

and then further left to C2023 A3

The markers give a good idea of position and also an idea of comet brightness (Stellarium gives NGC5400 an effective magnitude of 13.5). I think the bright spot associated with the comet was a background star.

I also managed an image of T Coronae Borealis, so when it goes from magnitude 10 to magnitude 2, as forecast for some time this year, I stand a chance of getting a second image (clouds permitting).

Geoff