APOD: 2024 September 30 – Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS over Mexico

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the September 30th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) made its closest approach to the Sun on last week (September 27th) at a distance of 0.40 AU (~28 million miles). But for those of us above the Equator (e.g. Northern Hemisphere), our first crack at viewing the comet won't be until mid October. In the meantime, we can enjoy the view from our southern neighbors.

APOD tells us that this composite image is from a drone over Zacatecas, Mexico. Several exposures were merged to enhance the comet's visibility (in other words, it is only dimly visible to the unaided eye). Kudos to the photographer for being dedicated enough to not worry about the clouds that would have been obscuring the view.

From Wilmington on the day of perihelion it will not be observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and will be no higher than 4° above the horizon at dawn.