While astronomers have indicated that the best days to view the “Comet of the Century” will be between October 12 and 13, the C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) comet is already visible to the naked eye in Mexico. Photos of the comet captured from Cancún and Guadalajara are circulating on social media.
Photographer Gerardo Salvador has shared spectacular photos and videos on his social media, showing how the C/2023 A3 comet looks from Cancún. “Interstellar traveler C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visiting the Caribbean skies of Cancún. A closer capture of the ‘Comet of the Century’ that we observed crossing the dawn today,” Gerardo explained on social media.
When Can You See the “Comet of the Century” in Mexico?
Gerardo Salvador explained that to take the photos, he had to track the comet for several days, mainly because the weather conditions were not optimal. However, the “Comet of the Century” can now be seen around 5:40 AM with the naked eye.
So, if you want to take photos of the comet or simply observe it, you’ll need to wake up early and look up at the sky. If you don’t know how to find the comet, you can read about how to see the “Comet of the Century” from your home; it will be visible throughout Mexico.
Other photographers have also started sharing images of the comet. In Zapopan, Jalisco, it was captured by Williams Chávez, and in southern Guadalajara by Alan Campos.
In a Facebook astrophotography group, Gerardo explained that to take the photos, he needed a professional camera, a zoom lens, and a tripod, as the photos are long exposures of about 5 seconds.
But don’t feel limited if you don’t have a professional camera. Photos of the comet taken with cell phones are also circulating on social media, like those by Alan Campos, who ingeniously used binoculars to enhance his phone camera’s power.
Source: Debate