Observation by Nick James: C/2023 A3

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2024 Jul 09 - 08:46

Uploaded

2024 Jul 10 - 20:08

Objects

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

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Constellation

Leo

Field centre

RA: 11^h09^m
Dec: +02°20'
Position angle: +5°40'

Field size

0°18' × 0°14'

Equipment

0.51-m, f/6.8 CDK

Exposure

10x60s

Location

iTelescope, SSO, Australia

Target name

C/2023 A3

Title

C/2023 A3

About this image

A recent paper by Sekanina claims that this comet is currently in the process of fragmentation. Using BAA observers' data I see no evidence for that either in the lightcurve, the astrometry or the images. The comet is no longer visible from the UK but should be observable from the southern hemisphere until August. This high resolution image (0.54 arcsec/pixel) shows an apparently healthy comet with a rather odd tail.

Files associated with this observation

2023a3_20240709_084614_ndj.jpg (1.5 MB)

Like this image

Grant Privett, Callum Potter, Martina McGovern, Peter Tickner, Honor Wheeler, Mike Foulkes

Comments

Grant Privett, 2024 Jul 10 - 23:41 UTC

Does Larson-Sekanina processing show anything?

Nick James, 2024 Jul 11 - 05:53 UTC

Not much. There is a sharp downtail jet and a standard parabolic outflow from the photocentre. Nothing that looks particularly unusual. It certainly doesn't look like an object in the process of disintegration.

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