For skywatchers and astronomy lovers... 2024 had quite a few highlights. The arrival of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas) was the brightest comet I've seen in my lifetime! It took a journey spanning thousands of years from the Oort Cloud and finally peaked in brightness shortly after passing the Sun on October 9th with a magnitude of −4.9.
I snagged my mom and brother on the way to finding a clear view of the horizon and we watched the sun slowly descend from view. We searched for the glow of the comet's tail.
It wasn't until we took some long exposure photos that we suddenly saw the exact location of the comet in the darkening sky. The sight was mesmerizing!
The sky darkened and as it did, the comet got lower in the sky... fading from view below the horizon.
Over the next few days, the comet was visible after sunset. I made it a point to take a peek from various locations in San Antonio as I ran errands. It felt like a quiet visitor observing us on Earth.
Comets like C/2023 A3 remind us of the ever-changing nature of the cosmos... and life. They appear suddenly, linger briefly, and then fade into the depths of space, perhaps never to return. I'm not one to believe in superstitions, but hindsight loves to play mind games. Comets were once thought to be omens of bad luck, disaster, and death. People believed that comets were messages from the gods or signs of impending catastrophes.
My dad preferred to stay home on the evening we went comet spotting. It's not unusual for him to indulge in the moments when he could find some alone time. He passed away suddenly a month and ten days later from an aneurysm. I often think of him there at home... happy and content to watch his favorite tape deck review videos on YouTube... and avoiding the bad luck, disaster and life changing catastrophe we would experience having seen the comet ourselves. Silly to say "out loud" in words here... but it's just where my mind seems to go sometimes as I try to make sense of what seems completely unfair, untimely, and too soon.
Observing comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas felt like seeing a deep celestial secret from a far away place I'd never see in my lifetime. It was awe inspiring and magical to see it grace our skies for those days after its first appearance. I know my dad is out there in a place where I'll never see him again in my lifetime too - but I will always have a deep sense of awe, love and admiration for his life lived like a blazing, magical and stunning comet across the sky. ❤️🩹 I'll always keep looking to the skies. ✨
Love you, dad.
Astrophotography FAQs
When did you start observing & photographing the night sky?
It is fair to say my first "love" was the night sky and I have many wonderful family memories of taking night roadtrips outside of the city limits to see the heavens better. I started photographing the sky in 2000 when I bought my first SLR camera.
What equipment do you use to observe & photograph the night sky?
• Canon SX50 HS
• Orion 10x50 Wide-angle binoculars
• iPhone 15Pro (rare, but it happens!) 😅
What do you suggest for someone wanting to get started in astronomy or astrophotography? Having some basic understanding about celestial objects and the night sky can be super helpful before jumping right in. • For observing the night sky: I suggest reading articles and blogs about current astronomy events. There are many sites which keep calendars of what to expect months and years in advance. Join local astronomy clubs, online groups and forums, and get recommendations for tips and tricks for observing where you live.
• For astrophotography: I suggest learning about camera settings, equipment setup, and post-processing techniques to be successful. There are many videos online with tips and tricks for the best settings. Also beware, equipment can get quite pricy!
Disclaimer: The thoughts shared in this blog are solely my own and do not represent the perspectives of my professional relationships or clientele.
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