Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) in the evening sky : October 11-15, 2024

October 11: San Diego

My eyeballs couldn't find it in the bright evening twilight, but the camera did.

01:50Z The comet is very faintly visible in the upper center of the frame

01:59Z

pIMG_2216.JPG

02:08Z

October 12: San Diego, Poway

I got chased inland by a quickly moving marine layer tonight.

02:05Z

02:11Z

pIMG_2228.JPG

02:31Z In the hills above Poway

October 13: Ramona

I didn't take any chances with the marine layer, and went inland to Ramona from the start

pIMG_2237.JPG

pIMG_2240.JPG

pIMG_2246.JPG

02:24Z A hint of an anti-tail is visible

pIMG_2259.JPG

Moonlit grasslands

pIMG_2270.JPG

pIMG_2276.JPG

02:47Z I hope they have comet insurance :)

Sagittarius with Mt. Woodson

October 15: Ramona

Hazy evening with the marine layer moving in. The comet was near the globular cluster M5, and its movement could be seen over the 30 minutes or so it was in sight. (MPC ephemeris estimates 13"/min - about a moon diameter every 2.3 hours)

02:13Z

pIMG_2294.JPG

pIMG_2297.JPG

02:26Z

pIMG_2300.JPG

02:29Z Next to the star 6 Serpentis. 5 Serpentis is at the right edge of the frame

02:55Z The comet has moved above the line between 6 and 5 Serpentis

03:02Z The clouds are coming!