Comet C/2023 A3 and Bioluminescence on California North Coast

Humboldt County, California

The human family was treated during the month of October to comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), a visitor from the outer reaches of the solar system. Here in Humboldt County, it has graced the western skies after sunset for several weeks, but it is fading fast now as it recedes from our planet on its journey back out from the sun. 

Many comets have predictable orbits. This one came in from far beyond Pluto, and it was originally thought that it would return to our part of the solar system in around 80,000 years, but it now seems to be on a course that will take it out of the solar system entirely. So much for predictability, but you and I were never going to see it again in any case.

I hadn’t been going out much to do my night photography of late, but with the comet’s arrival my little voice started piping up, “If you don’t go out, you won’t bring anything back.” People who fish probably have that voice, too. But on some of the best viewing nights it wasn’t possible for me to go out. On other nights it wasn’t convenient, which is a poor excuse for not going out when I really do want to bring back a great photograph. I know that little voice is always right, but sometimes it’s just so late, and dark and cold.

On perhaps the best night that I could have gone out and taken a real photo, I only stood in my front yard and took an iPhone photo of it above the neighbor’s house across the street. I mean, really. That’s not me, but that’s what I did. I can’t even look my little voice in the eye on that one (I don’t really hear voices, for those concerned, but I can usually look them in the eye). I can only imagine the photo I might have gotten if I’d gone out that night. 

I have to acknowledge that when I do go out, I am often blessed with a stroke of luck that adds something unexpected to an image which turns out to be crucial to the composition. It’s the photo gods saying, “That guy needs some help down there. I mean, look at him,” and I appreciate the assistance. They had already provided the comet, and this time, they threw in some bioluminescence in the surf. You’ll find its blue glow in the breaking waves, a glow caused by certain algae that uses its glowing abilities for purposes including attracting mates, evading predators and attracting prey. 

I’m always waiting for the next comet, and for years I have hoped to photograph bioluminescent surf. Thank you, Mother Nature, for that unexpected combo gift: a comet over bioluminescence in Pacific was more than I’d hoped for. How magical that the two were presented for me together. It turns out I went out on a good night after all.

Related photo story: 2020’s Comet NEOWISE: Comet NEOWISE Over California’s North Coast