Is there a comet tonight? How to see comet A3

A once-in-many-lifetimes comet is zipping by Earth right now.

Comet C/2023 A3 — known simply as Comet A3 — was first discovered last year and was first visible in the night sky earlier this month, with peak viewing from Oct. 16 through Oct. 20.

The comet is projected to swing through our solar system again sometime between 80,000 years from now and never.

Is there a comet tonight?

Comet A3 will be visible in the night sky tonight — and the next few nights — if you know what to look for.

About 45 minutes after sunset, go outside and face the direction the sun went down. Use your hand as a guide on where to look; holding your arm straight out, make a fist and line it up with the horizon. The comet should be visible at that general point in the sky. Then, scan the area, looking for a fuzzy, glowing ball slowly moving across the horizon.

If the night sky is dark enough — we do have a full supermoon tonight — you should be able to track comet A3 for an hour or more as it moves from right to left before it dips below the horizon.

Sunday night will likely be your last chance to see comet A3.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Is there a comet tonight? How to see comet A3