Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) is making its grand journey through the inner solar system, inspiring astronomers, photographers, and stargazers around the world. As part of this collective fascination, I’m excited to share my photographs I captured of this remarkable celestial visitor against the vibrant cityscape of Brooklyn, NYC.

These photos are my small contribution to the ongoing global observation of this rare comet, offering a glimpse into how even from an urban environment, the wonders of space remain accessible to those with the patience to seek them.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible from Brooklyn over the Verrazano Bridge and Staten Island after Sunset

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/3.8, ISO 1600, 2 sec. October 15, 2024.

In a stunning blend of cosmic beauty and urban life, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was captured over Brooklyn just after sunset. Although not visible to the naked eye due to the intense light pollution of New York City, the comet revealed itself through the preview on a Canon RA camera. 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over Brooklyn, NYC.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/3.2, ISO 400, 3 sec. October 15, 2024.

Nestled between Staten Island and a boat drifting across the water, the comet adds a subtle glow beneath the iconic Verrazano Bridge, demonstrating the magic that can still be found in the night sky, even amid the city’s overwhelming lights.

The next photo dives deeper into the beauty of Comet C/2023 A3, revealing details not visible in the wide-angle city shot. Captured with a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM telephoto lens, the image showcases the comet’s bright, glowing tail and even a faint anti-tail.

Comet C/2023 A3 – detailed close-up of the comet’s tail and anti-tail captured from New York.

Canon EOS 60Da, Canon EF200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens,  f/2.8, ISO 2500, 2 sec, stock 10 images, using iOptron SkyTracker, October 16, 2024.

The anti-tail is a fascinating feature that forms due to the unique alignment between the comet, the Sun, and Earth. While the main tail streams away from the Sun, the anti-tail appears to extend in the opposite direction. This is not because the comet has two tails going in different directions, but rather due to an optical illusion caused by our perspective. The anti-tail consists of dust particles along the comet’s orbit, which, under the right angle, seem to point sunward.

These images represent not just the beauty of the comet but also the joy of participating in a global observation effort. Whether observing from a dark, rural landscape or amidst the glowing lights of a bustling city, we all have the opportunity to look up and witness the universe unfolding before us.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• A Celestial Surprise: Capturing Comet SOHO-5008 During the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024
• Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Canon Ra Bethel, New York
• The comet NEOWISE reflecting in Wesserlauf Pond, Bethel, New York
• Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City

A Celestial Surprise: Capturing Comet SOHO-5008 During the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

On the memorable day of April 8, 2024, as the moon's shadow enveloped parts of the Earth in a brief midday twilight, a remarkable celestial event was captured by astronomers and photography enthusiasts alike. Among these observers was myself, fortunate enough to photograph a rare and fleeting moment during the total solar eclipse—a moment that would immortalize the doomed comet SOHO-5008.

Comet was not visible by naked eyes, but when I checked one of my HDR images with exposure 2 second, I found that doomed comet SOHO- 5008 is visible on the photo! 

Total Solar Eclipse April 8 2024 and doomed comet SOHO-5008

Canon Ra, Canon EF200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens + Canon 2x III Extender = 400mm, F/8, ISO 200, 4sec - Westport, New York.

Read articles on livescience or spaceweather about this comet.

The comet, named "SOHO-5008", was discovered earlier that day by the vigilant eyes of amateur astronomer Worachate Boonplod. He spotted it in the images captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) coronagraph, marking the beginning of an unexpected celestial narrative. News of the discovery spread quickly, and astronomer Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab highlighted the potential for ground-based observations during the eclipse. "Ground-based observations of sungrazing comets are extremely rare, so this would be a great opportunity to see an eclipse comet!" Battams had remarked, setting the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime observation.

The capture of comet SOHO-5008 during the solar eclipse is a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of our universe. Just as the eclipse brought darkness to the day, it also brought to light a comet on its final voyage. This celestial coincidence underscores the value of staying present and prepared—for in the world of astronomy, as in life, some of the most fascinating moments are those that are unplanned and fleeting.

Astronomical Image Annotation from Astrometry.net

Astrometry.net

The photograph of the disintegrating comet, set against the backdrop of the solar eclipse, will forever serve as a personal memento of a singular moment when the universe unveiled its wonders. It stands as a call to all who gaze upon it to look up and marvel at the vast, beautiful cosmos—a universe teeming with surprises, waiting to be discovered.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• The Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 during totality, seen from Westport, New York
• Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Canon Ra Bethel, New York
• Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City
• Tennessee Astrophotography - Great American Eclipse - Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017
• Solar Eclipse New York - 11/3/2013

The comet NEOWISE reflecting in Wesserlauf Pond, Bethel, New York

Comets are like cats: they have tails, 

and they do precisely what they want. 

- David H. Levy

This photo captures Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) beautifully reflected in Wesserlauf Pond in Bethel, New York. Both the comet itself and its water reflection were visible to the naked eye that night.

On the image, you can see the comet’s bright nucleus, its long tail stretching upward across the sky, and the clear reflection of both the comet and surrounding trees in the pond. The stars are also visible in the water, creating a peaceful double-sky effect.

The comet shows two tails on the photo: the wider yellow-white dust tail and the thinner blue ion tail, which is usually invisible to the human eye but captured nicely by the camera’s sensor. To reduce noise, I used DeNoise AI during processing.

The comet NEOWISE reflecting in Wesserlauf Pond, Bethel, New York

Technical details:
Wesserlauf Pond, Bethel NY • Canon EOS Ra • EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
f/2.8 • 12.5 seconds • ISO 16,000

About Comet NEOWISE

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) was discovered on March 27, 2020 by NASA’s NEOWISE space telescope. In July 2020 it became one of the brightest naked-eye comets visible from the northern hemisphere in more than two decades.

NEOWISE displayed a dramatic dust tail and a faint blue ion tail, making it a rare and unforgettable astronomical event enjoyed by millions around the world.

Related Comet Astrophotography Posts

• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) Visible in NYC
  Bright naked-eye comet captured above the New York City skyline using Canon Ra.
• Comet SOHO-5008 During the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse
  Rare comet photographed during total solar eclipse totality.
• Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) — Canon Ra, Bethel, New York
  Detailed tail structure captured under dark rural skies.
• Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City
  Early DSLR comet hunt using ephemerides in urban Bortle Class 8–9 conditions.

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Canon Ra Bethel, New York

We are hit by tons of material every day, but it is all dust. 

We are all walking around with comet dust in our hair.

- Don Yeomans

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) became one of the brightest comets visible in the northern hemisphere since Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997. On July 17, 2020, it was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, even from moderately light-polluted locations.

This image was taken in Bethel, New York using the Canon EOS Ra with a 200mm f/2.8 lens. The photograph clearly shows the comet’s bright nucleus and its beautiful dual tail structure — the wider dust tail and the thinner, straighter ion tail extending upward across the frame.

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Canon Ra Bethel, New York

Technical details:
Canon EOS Ra • EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM • f/2.8 • ISO 40,000 • 2.5-second exposure

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Milky Way Panorama – Toronto Reservoir, Bethel NY
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• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC
• A Celestial Surprise: Capturing Comet SOHO-5008 During the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

Backyard Astronomy - Astrophotography Celestron NexStar 4se

Backyard Astronomy - Astrophotography Celestron
NexStar 4se telescope
Canon EOS 40D and T-Adapter-C90 and Barlow T-Adapter 1 1/4 inches and T-ring for Canon EOS
Celestron 4se telescope with T-Adapter-C90 (93635-A) and Canon EOS 40D
Celestron 4se telescope with Barlow t-Adapter 1 1/4 inches (93640) and Canon EOS 40D
Celestron 4se with Barlow t-Adapter 1 1/4 inches (93640), Erect Image Diagonal (94116) and Canon EOS 40D
Photos of the Moon and the Sun
Celestron NexStar 4se telescope NexImage CCD
Jupiter photos
Piggy-Back Camera Mount for Celestron NexStar 4 telescope (Item# BRKTPIG4)
The Green Comet 103P/Hartley 2 (2010)

 

Moon Celestron 4SE Canon 40D Astronomy Brooklyn Astrophotography

Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City

From the public, his discovery brought cheers. 

From his wife, it drew nothing but torrents of tears. 

"For you see," said Ms. Halley, 

"He used to come daily; 

Now he comes once every 70 years!" 

--Astronomy Jokes

In October 2010, the bright green comet 103P/Hartley 2 passed relatively close to Earth, offering a rare opportunity for urban astrophotography. This series was captured from Brooklyn, New York City — under heavy light pollution — using a piggyback DSLR setup mounted on a Celestron NexStar 4SE.

Despite the challenges of NYC skies, stacking multiple exposures revealed the comet’s distinct green coma, caused by glowing diatomic carbon (C₂) molecules in its atmosphere.

Image 1: Stacked result showing the comet within the surrounding star field.

Image 2: Closer crop revealing the bright coma.

Image 3: Maximum zoom view highlighting the comet nucleus region and surrounding glow.

Comet Hartley 2, Celestron 4SE Canon 40D Brooklyn

Capture Details

Object: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 (The Green Comet)
Date: October 12, 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Camera: Canon 40D
Mount: Piggybacked on Celestron NexStar 4SE
Lens: Canon EF 28–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
Focal Length: 28mm
Exposure: 27 × 60 seconds
ISO: 1250
White Balance: Daylight
Total Integration Time: 27 minutes

Processing Workflow

Urban light pollution required careful processing:

• Stacking performed in DeepSkyStacker
• Light pollution reduction using Photoshop (Median Noise Filter + Gaussian Blur)
• Final contrast and color adjustments in Photoshop

The embedded video below demonstrates the light pollution removal process and stacking workflow.

For techniques on reducing light pollution, see Removing Light Pollution in Urban Astrophotography, where I demonstrate advanced processing from Golden Gate Bridge skies.

Piggyback Setup – Behind the Scenes

The following images were taken during daytime and show the full piggyback configuration used for capturing Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from Brooklyn.

The Canon 40D DSLR was mounted on top of the Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope using a dedicated piggyback bracket (Item #BRKTPIG4). This configuration allows the telescope mount to track the sky while the DSLR captures wide-field images.

Brooklyn Astrophotography, Celestron 4SE PiggyBack, NYC Astronomy

PiggyBack Camera Mount for Celestron NexStar 4SE (Item# BRKTPIG4), Comet Photo Setup, Brooklyn NYC Astrophotography

NYC Astrophotography, Celestron 4SE

Celestron 4SE and Canon 40D - NYC Astrophotography

Urban Comet Imaging – A Challenge Worth Taking

Capturing a comet from New York City is always a technical challenge. High skyglow, limited visibility, and atmospheric haze make faint objects difficult to detect. However, with careful stacking and processing, even a suburban or urban observer can document transient celestial visitors.

Comet 103P/Hartley 2 was especially memorable because it was visited by NASA’s EPOXI spacecraft during its 2010 flyby — making backyard imaging even more exciting.

Comets Over New York City – 14 Years Apart

Urban comet imaging has always been one of the most challenging and rewarding forms of astrophotography. Fourteen years after capturing Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from Brooklyn, I photographed another bright visitor over New York City — Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC .

The contrast between these two comet encounters is striking. In 2010, Comet 103P/Hartley 2 was faint and not visible to the naked eye from New York City. Its position had to be calculated using ephemerides, and a wide-field piggyback setup was required to locate and capture it through stacked exposures.

By comparison, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was significantly brighter and easily visible without optical aid. Using a more modern Canon EOS Ra, a much simpler imaging approach was possible — sometimes the sky itself provides the spectacle without the need for complex techniques.

Together, these two comets illustrate different faces of urban comet photography: one a technical challenge requiring precision and persistence, the other a rare and unforgettable naked-eye visitor over the New York skyline.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC
• Removing Light Pollution – Urban Astrophotography (Golden Bridge, LA)
• M42 Orion Nebula – iOptron SkyTracker NYC
• Jupiter 2010 Opposition – Celestron 4SE