Session Data
- Date: 22/10/2024
- Time: 18:55 – 19:55 UT
- Seeing: II. Good – Slight
- Transparency: II. Clear with some cloud
- Temp: 11 C,
- Air Pressure: 1032mb
- Humidity: 93%
- Dew Point: 9C
- Wind Speed: 4mph
Scope: Opticron 8×42 Natura Binoculars
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
With the RC off the mount getting a rebuild, I didn’t want to completely rebalance the scope in order to observe C/2023 A3, so I just got out a pair of 8×42 binoculars.
I wasn’t able to make out the Comet naked eye, but it was very obvious through the binoculars. After about 10 mins I can make out about 3 degrees of tail and a further 10 mins of dark adaptation this extended to about 5 degrees. The core was bright, but I was unable to discern any shape to it as it was impossible to hold the binoculars steady enough even with my elbows supported on the observatory wall. I don’t know how anyone does astronomy with a pair of binoculars hand held.
Images show a faint streamer within the tail, but this wasn’t visible visually.
The big scope is back on the mount, so I hope to observe this Comet again through the TMB before it disappears for good.