Residents of Bengaluru just witnessed their sky turning vibrant, displaying a range of spectacular colours. According to a report in The Hindu, this was a result of the Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) passing above the city at a close range. The Comet C/2023 A3 was first discovered by China’s Purple Mountain Observatory.
C/2023 A3 is a non-periodic comet. This means there is no set timeline on when the comet will appear, unlike the Halley comet, which appears once every 75 years. According to Upendra Pinnelli, an astrophotographer, the comet is revisiting our solar system almost after 80,000 years. It will travel at some 129.6 million kilometres away from Earth and is said to be a part of the Sextans constellation.
Some also confused this for aurora lights, a phenomenon caused by solar flares, that mostly occur in the northern hemisphere.
The comet is still at a close approach to the sun, and the increased visibility from our planet is owing to that. Early hours in the morning was the best time to spot the comet, which could have been spotted by the naked eye, without needing any special equipment.
Many assumed that the formation of colours on top of a cloud was just an anomaly, but it is the comet that caused an iridescent glow in the sky. This is said to repeat for a few more days in October, and residents of Hyderabad should be able to witness the same on October 2.
Bengaluru skies being just magical!
What is this phenomenon even called? pic.twitter.com/Uvhl4OgvmU
— Vihar Vaghasiya (@vihar73) September 30, 2024
YESSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/KTOwfIYRtS
— aadhya (@aadhyakryl) September 30, 2024
Comet spotted in Bengaluru with unaided eyes!#Bengaluru #Astronomy #morning pic.twitter.com/BnTcQDwWrA
— Utkarsh Shahdeo (@Utkarsh_Shahdeo) October 1, 2024
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
