SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Pepe Chambó
Location of Photo:
Valencia, Spain
Date/Time of photo:
2024 May 2, 21:46 UT
Equipment:
TS-Photon 8" N f/3.6, Atik 383L+
Description:
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) observed on May 2, 2024, shows a brightness that has remained at magnitude 10.5, the same as I recorded three weeks ago. However, the angular length of its tail has doubled, from 2.5' to 5', probably due to the increase in the phase angle, which implies that we now observe it more from the side. In the image, the comet's tail can be clearly seen extending to the left, with a bright and well-defined coma. This pause in the increase of brightness is common in comets visiting the inner Solar System for the first time. Hopefully, it will soon resume its brightening trend.
