Saturday, October 19, 2024

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS the last few nights

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, Belchertown, MA, Oct 15, 2024
Venus and Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, Belchertown, MA, Oct 15, 2024
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2024

A fairly bright comet has graced the skies here the last few nights.  It is a comet that came from the Oort Cloud and has an 80,000 year cycle to get back here again.  It is visible in the western sky at sunset to the right of Venus.  The now full moon and some high clouds made getting photos a bit tough but the view was spectacular.  It will be around for a few more nights before it disappears as it heads back out away from earth...a cool astronomical event for sure.

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Amherst, MA, Oct 15, 2024
White throated Sparrow, Amherst, MA, Oct 15, 2024
Chipping Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2024
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2024

Migration has been fairly heavy with more late season migrants showing up (mainly sparrows and juncos plus some waterfowl as well as others).  The diversity continues to drop with each passing day although the numbers are still fairly high (especially for sparrows).  As fall moves along the chances of rarities continues to go up and I will certainly try my best to track down something noteworthy.

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