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Neste domingo, em Portugal, será possível ver o cometa C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS após o pôr do sol , por volta das 19:35. É necessário um céu limpo e pouca poluição luminosa. O cometa foi descoberto em 2023 na China e confirmado na África do Sul. Ele pode ser visto no oeste , mas some às 20:00.

Translation

This Sunday in Portugal, it will be possible to see the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS after sunset, around 19:35. A clear sky and minimal light pollution are essential. The comet was discovered in China in 2023 and confirmed in South Africa. It can be seen in the west but disappears by 20:00.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What time will the comet be visible in Portugal on Sunday?

The comet will be visible around 19:35 on Sunday in Portugal.

Question 2: Where was the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS discovered?

The comet was discovered in China.

Exercise: Vocabulary

- put

(m.) - sun

(f.) - pollution

- confirm

- discover

(m.) - west

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▌13/10/2024

This Sunday, the skies over Portugal will offer a brief opportunity to observe the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS with the naked eye. This celestial event is set to take place shortly after sunset, around 19:35 local time. The sighting will require a clear sky and a viewpoint with minimal light pollution.

The comet was originally discovered in January 2023 by telescopes at the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China, and its presence was subsequently confirmed by the ATLAS telescope in South Africa. As the twilight spreads, evening stargazers will have limited time to spot the comet, which can be found by looking to the west. However, by 20:00, its visibility will decrease significantly, making it hard to see as it dips further into the horizon.

Nuno Peixinho, an astrophysicist from the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing the comet from the bright glow of the planet Venus, which will be visible to the left of the comet. Peixinho advises choosing a location free from light pollution for optimal viewing.

Rare Comet Visible in Portugal This Sunday Evening Rare Comet Visible in Portugal This Sunday Evening (Illustration)

The Observatory of Geophysical and Astronomical Sciences at the University of Coimbra plans to host an observation session from 19:20 to 20:00 to capture this rare occurrence. On this evening, the comet will be approximately 71 million kilometres from Earth and about 82 million kilometres from the Sun.

After this close approach, the comet's luminosity is expected to diminish as it continues its journey further into the Solar System, potentially not returning to Earth's vicinity for hundreds of thousands of years, if ever again. Originating from the Oort Cloud, a region teeming with icy bodies at the outskirts of the Solar System, the comet dodged potential disintegration when it approached the Sun late last month.

Scientists note that comets are constructed from ice, dust, and smaller rocky particles, which generate a glowing atmosphere called a coma and a tail when heated by solar proximity. This composition makes them susceptible to collapsing under intense solar heat, a fate avoided by the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in recent weeks.

Though primarily observable in the northern hemisphere this October, its prior appearance was in the southern hemisphere during September. Enthusiastic astronomers and casual observers alike will need to seize this fleeting chance to view a comet labelled by some as the 'comet of the century,' named in homage to the observatories that spotted its approach.

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