My Early Morning Encounter with Comet C/2023 Tsuchinshan-Atlas
In the pre-dawn hours of a Tuesday morning, I found myself perched on a hill facing east, looking above Mount Dandenong, my trusty Seestar telescope at the ready. The time was 5:15 AM, and the sky was still dark-ish. I knew that somewhere in that darkness, this comet was there!
I had recently seen plenty of photos on social media, and was waiting to be photographed.
Comet C/2023 Tsuchinshan-Atlas, making its way through our solar system, was the object of my early morning quest. This wasn’t just any comet – it was a once-in-a-lifetime event that I had to see!
As looked up the comet listing on the Seestar App, I adjusted my Seestar, the eastern horizon began to show the faintest hints of the sun rising. The timing was crucial; too early, and the comet would be too faint to see, too late, and it would be lost in the morning Sun glow.
I also had a pair of my Saxon 10 x 70 binoculars to view it as well, it was a ghostly smudge against the stars. There was Comet c/2023 Tsuchinshan-Atlas, in all its glory. The comet’s tail stretched out behind it and leaving a trail of ice and dust in its wake.
I quickly snapped a photo, knowing that this moment was fleeting. Later, when I examined the image on my computer, I realized that the raw photo didn’t do justice to what I had seen. It took some digital enhancement to truly bring out the details – the intricate structures in the comet’s tail, the subtle variations in its coma. But even with the enhancements, the photo could never fully capture the awe I felt in that moment.
Was it worth dragging myself out of bed at such an ungodly hour, trekking up a hill in the dark, and standing in the cold morning air? Absolutely!
As I watched the comet slowly fade with the approaching sunrise, I knew I had witnessed something truly special.
Comet c/2023 Tsuchinshan-Atlas won’t be visiting our neighborhood again in my lifetime. But for one brief moment, I connected with this comet and that is worth losing a little sleep over. I can always catch up on sleep!
So the next time you hear about a rare celestial event, don’t hesitate. Set that alarm, grab your gear, and head out. Because out there, in the quiet darkness before dawn, there are wonderful things to see and photograph if you can.