Subaru’s Live Streaming of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Comet: Awe-Inspiring Event

In mid-October, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS put on a stunning show in the evening sky, captivating astronomy enthusiasts worldwide. The Subaru Telescope facility in Hawai`i hosted a special live broadcast to share this celestial event with viewers everywhere.

The comet was expected to appear in the eastern sky in late September, visible from Maunakea where the Subaru Telescope is situated. The “Subaru-Asahi Star Camera,” a collaboration between the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and The Asahi Shimbun, captured the comet for the first time on September 22, faintly visible against the dawn light. As the days passed, the comet grew more distinct, with a magnificent tail extending across half of the camera’s field of view.

After its close encounter with the Sun, the comet reemerged in the western sky on October 11. NAOJ and The Asahi Shimbun set up a temporary camera to live stream the comet’s appearance. Viewers were treated to a glimpse of the comet on October 11 and were left in awe of its beauty on subsequent evenings as it rose higher in the sky.

On October 18, the live stream of the comet was featured during Japan’s nationwide lecture event celebrating 100 years of planetariums and the 25th anniversary of the Subaru Telescope. This event connected planetariums across Japan with the Subaru Telescope, offering a unique view of the comet over Maunakea.

The special live streaming event lasted for ten days in October, reaching over 120,000 viewers, with more than 70% tuning in from outside Japan. Comets like Tsuchinshan-ATLAS offer insights into the origins of our planet and life itself, inspiring future astronomers. The organizers hope that this event inspires children to pursue astronomy and visit Hawai`i for their own observations, sharing the wonder of the cosmos from this culturally and historically significant site.