In the evening of October 14, 2024, I saw Comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a newly discovered comet gracing our skies. This intriguing cosmic traveler was first identified by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the ATLAS survey in Hawaii.
I managed to capture it with my iPhone in a 3-second handheld exposure. You’ll notice in the photograph the distinct glow of the comet, its faint tail stretching into the night. And as a delightful bonus, perched on a power pole in the foreground is an owl, a quiet observer of the cosmic scene.