Stargazers in Saudi Arabia have a unique opportunity to catch a rare astronomical event today, in the night sky of October 12, 2024. A comet, dubbed C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, will make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday evening, in a spectacular phenomenon that will not happen again before another 80,000 years.
As an emerging global destination for astrotourism and space science, Saudi Arabia is home to various sites where people can enjoy the breathtaking astronomical event.
Tsuchinshan–ATLAS Comet
The C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered in 2023, by observers at China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory and an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in South Africa, hence it got its name to honor both observatories.
On September 27, 2024, the comet reached its closest point to the sun and was visible in the Southern Hemisphere in September and early October. Scientists presumed it would not stand the heat of the Sun due to its icy composition, but it survived intact and is now close to come within approximately 44 million miles of Earth.
The head of the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Bill Cooke, said: “Comets are more fragile than people may realize, thanks to the effects of passing close to the Sun on their internal water ice and volatiles such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.”
How to Spot it in Saudi Arabia?
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible to those in the Northern Hemisphere from mid-October to early November. It will not make any other appearances for the next 800 centuries, according to NASA.
On Saturday, it will reach its peak visibility as it comes within 44 million miles (nearly 71 million kilometers) of Earth. People can spot the comet by looking to the southwest, around 10 degrees above the horizon. It will be visible between the constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpio.
In Saudi Arabia, the comet can be spotted with naked eye 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, if the sky is clear and the eastern horizon is completely exposed. However, experts recommend to use binoculars or small telescopes for an enhanced view, according to Al-Arabyia.
Comet Brightness
The comet will appear like a bright fireball in the dark sky with a long, extended tail. In the light of this, Cooke said: “It’s not going to zing across the sky like a meteor. It will just appear to hang there, and it will slowly change position from night to night.”
He added: “Comets look okay to the unaided eye, but with a pair of binoculars, they’ll knock your socks off. It’ll be really good in a pair of binoculars. So, if you got a pair of binoculars, why don’t you bring those along and take a look at the comet.”
The proximity of Tsuchinshan-ATLAS to the Sun will cause a phenomenon called “forward scattering,” which will make the comet appear brighter due to the reflection of sunlight off its gas and debris.
Upcoming Celestial Event
Another celestial body will pass through the skies of Saudi Arabia later this month. In late October, the Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) will appear in the night sky. According to the International Astronomical Center (IAC), it belongs to the Sungrazing Comets, which pass very closely to the Sun at perihelion.
The comet will reach its closest point to Earth on October 28, 2024, as it will come within 1.2 million kilometers of Earth. Currently, it appears before sunrise and can be spotted by telescope from a dark place.
Best Location for Stargazing
Saudi Arabia boasts several destinations that can serve as ideal sites for stargazing and observing astronomical phenomena, such as watching the C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS and C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) comets. These locations include AlUla, Moon Valley, and Al Nafud.
The Kingdom has made major strides towards developing these sites and becoming a prime destination for stargazing and dark sky tourism.
Most recently, AlUla Manara and Gharameel Nature Reserve have gained the accreditation of DarkSky International as the first International Dark Sky Park in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Moreover, AlUla hosts the renowned annual event, AlUla Skies Festival, which offers distinctive experiences including the Stargazing and Astrophotography event. This extraordinary experience allows visitors to explore the sparkling stars of the Saudi skies at the charming desert of Gharameel, one of the world’s best destinations for stargazing.