Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS shines bright for northern hemisphere observers after perihelion

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has become a prominent evening object for northern hemisphere observers after surviving its close pass to the Sun on September 27. It reached a brightness of nearly -5 magnitude during perihelion. The comet has been easy to photograph, allowing people to capture images with simple smartphone cameras. It has been visible even in light-polluted urban areas, drawing comparisons to the popular comet F3 NEOWISE from 2020. Currently, Comet T-ATLAS remains a +6 magnitude object as it moves away from the Sun. Another bright comet, C/2024 G3 ATLAS, is expected to appear in January 2025.