加州上空的紫金山-阿特拉斯彗星

2024年10月21日

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over California
Credit & Copyright: Brian Fulda

Explanation: The tails of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS were a sight to behold. Pictured, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was captured near peak impressiveness last week over the Eastern Sierra Mountains in California, USA. The comet not only showed a bright tail, but a distinct anti-tail pointing in nearly the opposite direction. The globular star cluster M5 can be seen on the right, far in the distance. As it approached, it was unclear if this crumbling iceberg would disintegrate completely as it warmed in the bright sunlight. In reality, the comet survived to become brighter than any star in the night (magnitude -4.9), but unfortunately was then so nearly in front of the Sun that it was hard for many casual observers to locate. Whether Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas becomes known as the Great Comet of 2024 now depends, in part, on how impressive incoming comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) becomes over the next two weeks.

Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)
Tomorrow’s picture: star pillars

加州上空的紫金山-阿特拉斯彗星
影像提供与版权: Brian Fulda

说明: 紫金山-阿特拉斯彗星的彗尾，是个令人叹为观止的景观。在这幅摄于上星期最佳观赏期间的影像里，紫金山-阿特拉斯彗星（C/2023 A3）悬在美国加州东部的内华达山脉上空。当时这颗彗星不仅曳着明亮的彗尾，还拥有一道指向几乎相反的鲜明反彗尾。而在右方视野的远处，还可以看到球状星团M5。当这颗彗星往太阳靠时，人们不确定这团正在崩解的冰山，是否会在强烈的阳光下彻底解体。然而，事实证明这颗彗星幸存了下来，而且亮度比夜空中任何的恒星都要高（视星等为-4.9），不过很遗憾的是，它几乎位于太阳的前方，一般观测者很难找到它。至于紫金山-阿特拉斯彗星是否会获得2024年大彗星的称号，部分取决于接下来2星期内，接踵而来的彗星C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)之表现有多么令人惊艳。