The Bright Comet of 2024
The anticipated brightening of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) for northern hemisphere observers began in late September 2024. True to predictions the comet brightened as it entered the inner solar system and approached perihelion. The comet was poised for a great showing in the evening sky after sunset for a week to ten days beginning on October 12, 2024.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) moved into the constellation Serpens Caput by Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. It was only a little over 1 degree (The width of the tip of your little finger at arm’s length) away from the globular cluster M5 on this evening. The following is a screen capture of the comet and M5 as predicted in Stellarium.