Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event that had astronomers and stargazers alike buzzing with excitement. This remarkable comet discovered in 2023, made its closest approach to Earth on 12th October 2024, providing a rare opportunity for skywatchers to witness its stunning display.
I am Prashant, an amateur astronomer, and I have been part of a Stargazing, Camping and Astro-tourism startup called “ARC Educators.” At Arc we arrange stargazing trips across India, from overnight weekend trips around Mumbai & Pune to longer trips to popular destinations like Ladakh, Rajasthan, Spiti, Kutch, Malvan, etc. These are Astronomy-specific trips where we teach participants how to explore the night sky and show them many objects through different telescopes. This year, I led long trips to Ladakh and Spiti as an Astro-Expert/Guide.
As an avid amateur astronomer, I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas. It was also predicted to be visible to the naked eye, making it even more exciting, as this would be my first time observing a naked eye comet. I have been doing stargazing for almost 8 years now, but all were through telescopes, and I did not really get a chance to capture any images.
The First Attempt - Ladakh
As the world prepared to observe comet Tsuchinshan – Atlas (which I will refer to as “the comet” from now on), I found myself in a unique situation.
It was the first week of October, and the comet was approaching the Sun from Earth’s perspective. This meant it was visible just before sunrise, close to the eastern horizon for about half an hour. I was leading a Leh-Ladakh trip at the time, spending a few days in Pangong and Hanle—two of the best locations in India for dark skies.
Now, you might think I was truly fortunate to be in Ladakh during this celestial event. However, here is where the challenge arose. While Hanle is an ideal location for stargazing and observation, it is also surrounded by the towering Himalayas and other mountain ranges. This made it impossible for me to get a clear view of the eastern horizon, as the mountains obstructed the view. Nevertheless, from October 1st to October 5th, I woke up at 4 a.m. every day, in Ladakh’s freezing temperatures, and set up my camera in hopes of capturing the comet. Despite my efforts, I came up empty-handed each time.
At least, I was able to capture a beautiful image of Pangong Lake and its reflections.
The following week, the comet was too close to the Sun to be visible, so I had to wait until after October 12th, when it would start moving away from the Sun. I was still in Ladakh, holding onto some hope of capturing it. By then, the comet had shifted, becoming visible just after sunset for a short period. On the evening of the 12th, I tried to capture it from Leh but faced a similar issue: I lacked a clear view of the now “western horizon”.
I remember feeling both frustrated and disappointed, knowing I had not been able to capture the comet despite being in one of the best locations for stargazing. The next morning, I had to leave Ladakh with a heavy heart for Manali.
Second Attempt – Manali
On the morning of the 13th, I left from Leh to Manali by road—a journey that takes 10-11 hours. Although that might sound like a nightmare, it is truly one of the best road trips ever. The roads have significantly improved, and the views along the way are mind-blowing. I finally reached Manali around 10 PM, and seeing some familiar faces cheered me up. Over the past few months, Manali has become like a second home, filled with countless unforgettable stargazing memories and life-changing connections with some incredible & influential people which enriched my perceptions towards life.
On the evening of the 14th, I was ready for a new attempt in a new location. Given my experience in Ladakh, I had low expectations, as Manali is also surrounded by mountains. This time, however, I went to location suggested by a dear friends "Saurabh & Kunal" who are also founders of Unclenomad, a spot near Old Manali known locally for its stunning sunsets. I arrived alone at the spot just after sunset, set up my DSLR, and waited for twilight to pass.
Half an hour went by, and I still saw nothing. The direction at which I was pointing to, also had mountains, which made me suspect that the comet might be hidden behind them. But as the night got darker, my camera picked up something faint. At first, I could not believe it, but after a careful look, I saw the tail—and that confirmed it. I was looking at the rare “Comet Tsuchinshan–Atlas!”
Overcome with excitement, I screamed out loud, and thankfully, no one was around to hear me. Soon after, I could even spot it with the naked eye, a surreal experience. The Moon was up in the east, casting a gentle glow over the landscape, and there was the rare comet, framed perfectly between the mountains. After all that chase, this moment was worth every penny.
Now that I knew the comet was visible from this spot, I returned the next evening, this time better prepared. I brought a telescope and a few friends along. We captured a lot of behind-the-scenes content and even shot an Instagram reel. This was the first time I saw the comet through a telescope, and it was simply beautiful. That night, I also took one of my all-time favorite photos, capturing an incredible level of detail.
Third Attempt – Uttarakhand
After the successful observation in Manali, I was content with what I had captured. It was time to head home to Mumbai, but fortunately I got an opportunity to visit IIT Roorkee in Uttarakhand for a friend’s workshop. Naturally, I was pumped at the chance to try capturing the comet from a new location. We even planned a visit to Hrishikesh afterward for some sightseeing.
However, my excitement dimmed as soon as we reached Roorkee. The air pollution in the city was overwhelming, with the horizon constantly covered in what looked like a thick layer of fog. Despite these conditions, we went to Hrishikesh, hoping to catch a glimpse of the comet from the banks of the Ganga River.
Unfortunately, I saw not able to observe anything. The combination of light and air pollution was so intense that even Venus—the brightest object in the sky—was barely visible. In the image below, you can attempt to spot Venus faintly in the middle of the frame.
Fourth Attempt – Mumbai
After three months of chasing the comet, I finally returned to Mumbai on 21st October. After resting for couple of days it was once again time to head out in search for the comet. My stargazing experience began in Mumbai, and by now, I was well aware of the best spots for dark skies near the city, for night sky wonders & night sky astrophotography, thanks to ARC Educators.
On 23rd October, I set off towards one of my favourite locations - Dahanu, Maharashtra, a small village located about 150 km from Mumbai, near the Gujarat border. Dahanu is a small village situated at the western edge of Maharashtra towards Gujarat.
Dahanu is known for its serene, remote beaches, almost no light pollution, and is an excellent spot for stargazing. I arrived at my familiar spot in the afternoon, and was happy to see the cloudless sky, an unexpected blessing, given the recent bad weather in Mumbai.
As the sun set, I set up my camera with the intent to capture a good timelapse of the comet. Additionally, as the comet had significantly moved away from the sun and gotten closer to the milky way, I wanted to capture both the comet and the Milky Way core in a single shot. After twilight, I started my timelapse and was thrilled to capture both the comet timelapse and the comet with Milky Way core. Despite the light pollution still present in areas around Mumbai, as compared to skies of Ladakh & Manali, this was a huge success for me.
Last attempt – Bhandardara
Another day and another location to spot the comet. On 27th October, I participated in a special comet-watching AstroCamp organized by ARC educators at Sandhan Valley near Bhandardara, an excellent dark-sky site away from Mumbai city. I had been part of these camps for six years, but each event always brings its own set of challenges. As it was a special public watching comet event, expectations were high, and I could only hope for clear skies.
We picked up participants in an AC bus from Mumbai for the 5-hour journey to the campsite. Also, I met my team members from ARC after a long time, they are second family to me now. It was refreshing to be surrounded by the beautiful green mountains of Maharashtra after my recent time in the cold, barren landscapes of Ladakh. We reached the campsite around 6:30 PM, just after sunset, and it was time for the show to begin.
Immediately we set up tents for the participants and telescopes for comet observation. During the event, based off my recent experiences of comet sightings & knowledge, I explained to the participants what to expect, how to observe and capture the comet, even with their smartphones. At this point, the comet was barely visible to the naked eye but clearly visible in the long exposure captured photographs. Many participants were able to capture the comet on their phones, and seeing their excitement reminded me of the time I first saw the comet in Manali. I also captured the comet through my lens and here are the results from Sandhan valley.
Conclusion
This comet chase has been a journey full of fun, learning, and challenges. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have had the chance to observe and capture the Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas multiple times from various locations. Below is a fun graphic summarizing all of my comet captures from various places.
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