The Comet

At 5pm on Tuesday 22nd October 2024 after what had been a cloudy and wet day the clouds began to clear. I had been trying since early October to get a picture of a comet that was passing close to the Earth and supposed to be bright enough to be visible with the naked eye.

The comet was C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). This astronomical phenomena had been first detected in on the 9th of January 2023 by the Purple Mountain Observatory(Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory) in China and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in South Africa.

It was reported to be the brightest comet in the sky for 27 years. The comet had been visible since the 12th of October 2024 and the event was widely publicised. However the weather in South Wales had not been kind to star gazers. Cloud and rain had spoiled many opportunities to observe the comet throughout the month.

So last week after a long days work I looked up at the evenings sky above my house and could see that the sky was nice and clear. the BBC weather App  predicted more cloud later but the night ahead looked promising for star gazing.

I had read that in order to see the Comet you had to look towards the western horizon about 45mins to an hour after sunset. It would be relatively low in the sky apparently and be visible with binoculars or a telescope.

Having missed several opportunities with breaks in the weather I decided to cease the moment and head North to Blaenafon where I hoped I would be high enough up a local hill to see Tsuchinshan–ATLAS and photograph it.

By 6.40 pm that evening I had arrived near the Keepers Pond that lies on the border between Torfaen and Monmouthshire. It was starting to get dark and the sun had set leaving just an orange band on the Western horizon.

I decided to park up my car and walk into the area up as the Canada tips. Up and down the tips I walked until I found a suitable spot that looked over Garn-yr-rew towards Big Pit and the Coity Mountain.

It was now the "blue hour" a period of time after sunset where the sky has a tinge still of blue and has not turned black.

The sky remained pretty clear although some low cloud was threatening to spoil the show. I scanned the western skies with my camera lenses. I took some test shots and found zooming in on the back of the camera was the best way for me to search for a comet. I must admit with just my naked eye ( I only have one eye thats any good) there was no chance I was going to spot the comet.

Then as I panned over one of my pictures I saw the Comet at last. I was well happy. Now I knew where it was in the sky I could train my cameras on it and play about a bit taking some selfies of me looking up at it.

This was the first time I had ever seen a comet and I must admit the trudge across the Canada Tips was well worth it.  It was now getting really dark and cold. The only noise I could hear was my own breathing, the wind and the burbling of Red Grouse. The tips had turned into a black abyss and it was very difficult to get your bearings when I started to make my way back. The minute I went down from my vantage point I lost all sight of any landmarks or lights.

My torch shone only about 6 feet into the darkness revealing little around me so I had to use my local knowledge of the area and follow the tracks. At one point I took a wrong turn and stepped into a bog and lost my welly for a short time and ended up with a very wet foot until I retrieved my Wellington boot.

Eventually I made it safely back to my car. I decided to head down to Big Pit where I hoped I would be able to get a picture of the pit and the comet in one shot.

The pit head wheelhouse was illuminated pink again. This is usually to highlight a charity event.

I was lucky - the comet remained visible and I could be observed shooting a cross the sky above the mining museum.

It had been a night to remember and I was glad I had made the effort to get out and see it.

Apparently the Comet wont be seen again near our planet for another 80,000 years so it had been certainly been a once in  many lifetimes event!