Rare comet spotted in Colorado. How to see it before it disappears for 80,000 years

DENVER ( KDVR ) — On Sunday night, people across Colorado spotted a rare comet that only comes every 80,000 years. Luckily, there’s still time to see it.

According to NASA , the comet was discovered in 2023 at China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory and on an ATLAS telescope in South Africa, eventually getting the name Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS .

While the comet was first documented last year, it is believed to be very old. NASA said it came from the Oort Cloud, which lies beyond Pluto. After the comet travels within 44 million miles of Earth, it won’t return for another 80,000 years — and that’s assuming it survives the trip.

The comet was projected to come into view in mid-October, and already, FOX31 viewers across Colorado have spotted the rare sight. Some viewers in Loveland, Steamboat and South Park photographed the comet on Sunday.

While the comet was already spotted in Colorado, there’s still time to see it.

How to see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

NASA said the comet can be seen with the naked eye from mid-October through the end of the month.

According to the Pinpoint Weather team, nights this week will be clear enough to see the comet across the Front Range, although the mountains may block the view.

Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels said the best time to view the comet is just after sunset. However, the comet is on the western horizon, which may make it harder to see because of the mountains. Michels said the comet will get higher as the days progress, but it will also get dimmer as it heads further and further from Earth.

Michels said peak viewing is on Saturday evening, but the nightly forecast over the weekend might make it hard to see. Michels said there will be clouds around on Friday and into Saturday, but they might clear up later on Saturday.

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