C/2023 A3 is the brightest comet in nearly 13 years, visible to the naked eye! In addition, C/2023 A3 has developed a beautiful long tail. In mid-October, the comet will be visible above the western horizon in the Northern Hemisphere after sunset. Throughout the week, it will gradually move away from the sun, making it easier to spot. Using long exposure photography can help locate the comet.
Best time: Before October 20, about 30 minutes after sunset or around 6:30 to 7:00 PM is the ideal time.
Direction: Slightly left of due west at dusk.
Equipment: Camera, tripod, medium-to-long focal length lens.
Settings: Large aperture, long exposure, high ISO, for example: F2.8, shutter speed of 4 to 10 seconds, ISO 400 to 3200, manual focus.
Notes:
- It’s best to find a location with minimal light pollution.
- Have a good foreground in your composition.
- The lens doesn’t need to be too long, as it may exclude the foreground and make the comet harder to find.
- If light pollution is too strong and the comet isn’t visible to the naked eye, use long exposure on your camera to find it.
- Experiment with different exposure settings.
- On October 16, at 7:00 PM, the comet will be located about 5 degrees left of where the sun sets and approximately 30 degrees above the horizon.
