Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas Shines Over Sicily

A photo composite of multiple exposures. From the photographer: “On October 13th, the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet is more visible in the northern hemisphere and can be appreciated even better with the naked eye, thanks to its increased altitude in the sky as it moves away from the sun. By distancing itself from the sun’s brightness, it stands out more clearly in the sky.

The scene I wanted to present today is one that is very dear to me: the comet shines above the upper part of the city of Modica, where I grew up. The upper district is one of the oldest parts of Modica, and at its peak rises the Church of St. John the Evangelist, built in Baroque style after the devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Sicily in 1693. To paraphrase Gesualdo Bufalino, in the photo we can see a piece of the split pomegranate framing the marvelous comet that is currently gracing the skies around the world. The Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet is a periodic comet, meaning it will return to our vicinity—but not before 80,000 years have passed. I would say this is the right time to admire it with the naked eye before it drifts too far from our pale blue dot.”

Technical details:
Nikon D800 + Tamron 100-400 f/4.5-6.3 at 100mm, f/5, 2.5 s, ISO-6400
(20 stacked shots for the sky) + 100 mm, f/5, 30 s, ISO-200 (2 shots for the base)