Shortly after 7:15 PM, excitement went up through the crowd gathered at the Sophienalpe in Vienna’s Penzing district. “The comet is visible to the naked eye!” an amateur astronomer said. A few dozen enthusiasts and curious onlookers had come to this popular observation point at the city’s edge, hoping to glimpse the comet “C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas.” Though stubborn clouds initially blocked the view, their patience paid off in the end, as the comet briefly appeared—though faint and diffuse.
At around 6:00 PM, a large, immobile cloud bank settled in the western sky—exactly where “Tsuchinshan-Atlas” was expected to appear at dusk. The “comet hunters” waited eagerly for a “window of opportunity” in the clouds. Hope lingered as the setting sun illuminated a wide, orange-hued cloudless strip on the horizon, raising the chances of spotting the comet before it dipped out of view.
To pass the time, members of the Vienna Working Group for Astronomy (WAA) aimed telescopes at the moon and Saturn, allowing the attendees to enjoy a different celestial spectacle. Occasionally, someone in the crowd would believe they had spotted the comet’s tail, only to realize it was just another cloud or a passing plane.
Eventually, “Tsuchinshan-Atlas” did appear—albeit briefly and rather faintly. Its nucleus soon disappeared behind a cloud bank. The comet had already been visible from the Southern Hemisphere for several days, where it drew attention with spectacular images of its long, glowing tail, further fueling excitement for those hoping to see it in the north.
The hope for clearer skies remains for amateur astronomers and other skywatchers in Vienna. The WAA’s president, Alexander Pikhard, told the Austrian Press Agency (APA) that observers should continue looking west at dusk until Friday, as the comet will still be visible. However, it dims with each passing day.
Discovered in early 2023 by observatories in China and South Africa, “Tsuchinshan-Atlas” originates from the Oort Cloud, a spherical shell of objects at the outermost edges of our solar system. It follows an extremely elongated orbit around the sun, reaching its closest point (perihelion) on September 27. At that time, it was not visible from Central Europe, but it is now moving steadily away from the sun.
The WAA plans to host additional observation evenings on the Sophienalpe in the coming days, provided the weather cooperates. The Astronomical Center Martinsberg (in Lower Austria) also invites the public to join future viewings, weather permitting.
