How to see October's 'comet of the century' in Indiana before it disappears
By John Tufts, Indianapolis Star,
7 hours ago
October is giving Hoosiers a chance to see possibly the brightest comet of 2024 , according to NASA , before it fades away into the outer edge of our solar system where it won't return in our lifetime.
A comet named C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS is making an 80,000-year orbit around the sun. Some have dubbed it the "comet of the century" because of how brightly it might shine in the night sky.
Here's what Hoosiers should know about catching this rare marvel as it zooms above Indiana's skies throughout October.
Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS is believed to have come out of what astronomers call the Oort Cloud , which lies far beyond Pluto. NASA describes the Oort Cloud as giant spherical shell of icy space debris that surrounds our solar system. It's home to many long-period comets.
Will the comet be bright? What will it look like?
Comets are like cats, say astronomers. They have tails and they do what they want. While a comet's behavior can be tricky to predict, astronomers say Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS could become bright enough to spot with the naked eye.
How to see the 'comet of the century'
To begin, don't worry if the night is cloudy. Comet C/2023 A3 will be zooming in the sky throughout October, meaning you'll have several opportunities to witness it. For the best experience, you'll want to get away from bright city lights — the darker the skies, the better the view. Bring binoculars and maybe a comfy blanket to keep warm.
What time will Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS appear? Morning or night?
That depends on the date in October. Skywatchers in the United States can spot the comet early in the morning during the first few days of the month. Later, the schedule flips.
Until Oct. 9, experts say Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS will be visible an hour before sunrise in the Sextans , a constellation close to the equator. Grab a pair of binoculars or a telescope with a wide-angle view and look East just above horizon.
But for a really impressive show, astronomers say to wait until mid-October.
When can I see the comet in 2024?
If everything goes well, the best time to see the "comet of the century" starts Thursday, Oct. 10, according to Indiana's Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium .
"At this time, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS should be visible in the West just after sunset, and will get higher in the sky with each passing day until it becomes too faint for us to see," said Dr. Aarran Shaw on social media , who serves as director of Holcomb Observatory . and teaches Physics and Astronomy at Butler University.
How close will the comet get to Earth?
Between Oct. 12-13, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth, coming to within a distance of roughly 44 million miles, according to TheSkyLive.com .
"After the 12th, it will start to get fainter," Shaw said in a message to IndyStar. "We should be able to see it with the naked eye, but we definitely recommend a pair of binoculars to see the full glory of the comet."
Where to look to see the comet
Finding comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the Northern Hemisphere isn't about looking "up," experts say, so much as looking "out." Starting in mid-October you'll want to be somewhere with a good view of the horizon, according to the Planetary Society , because the comet won't appear high in the sky.
Shaw recommended people take a trip outside of the city where the comet is less likely to be blocked by trees, buildings and light pollution.
Just after sunset, look toward the west and find the constellation Virgo , the second largest constellation in the sky, and that's where Tsuchinshan-Atlas should appear.
How to find the constellation Virgo
Search for the curved handle of the Big Dipper , writes Space.com, then follow that arc to the bright star Arcturus . Continuing along that curve, you'll then find Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, and you can trace the remainder of the constellation from there.
Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
The following timeline from astronomy site Starwalk.space provides more information about when the comet can be viewed:
Oct. 2-9 : Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be too close to the sun to be visible to the naked eye. Observers can see and photograph it with a telescope in the morning, provided they take the necessary precautions to protect their vision from the sun's UV light. The most optimistic forecasts say that the comet will exceed magnitude -5.0. If so, it'll be visible to the naked eye even in the daytime sky close to the sun.
Oct. 10-12 : The comet will appear in the evening in the Northern Hemisphere shortly after sunset, very low in the western sky in the constellation of Virgo. It's a short observation window, but visible with the naked eye. The best time to see the comet will be as it makes its closest approach to Earth around Oct. 12.
Oct. 13-14 : Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will lose some of its brightness, but will move farther from the sun making it easier to see. It will be visible with the naked eye in the evening about an hour after sunset.
Oct. 15-19 : The comet may produce what's called an anti-tail — a bright streak that appears to be pointing toward the Sun, opposite the other tails.
Oct. 20-31 : The comet will be visible with binoculars and telescopes.
And if Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS doesn't wow you, just wait. Another one is coming , writes Starwalk, that might outshine Venus later this month.
Other astronomical events happening in October 2024, per NASA
If you plan on observing the night sky this month, according to NASA , keep the following dates in mind for October 2024:
All month – Look for Venus low in the west just after sunset. Saturn can be seen toward the southeast as soon as it gets dark. Mars rises around midnight and Jupiter rises in the first half of the night (rising earlier as the month goes on).
October 2 – New moon
October 11 – Europa is easily observable to one side of Jupiter by itself this morning using binoculars.
October 14-31 – Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) becomes visible low in the west following sunset. If the comet's tail is well-illuminated by sunlight, it could be visible to the unaided eye. The first week and a half (Oct. 14-24) is the best time to observe, using binoculars or a small telescope.
October 13-14 – After dark both nights, look for the nearly full Moon with Saturn toward the southeast.
October 17 – Full moon.
October 20 – The Moon rises near Jupiter, with the giant planet looking extremely bright. You should be able to find them low in the east after around 10 pm.
October 23-24 – Early risers will be able to spot Mars together with the Moon, high overhead in the south both mornings.
October 25 – Europa is easily observable to one side of Jupiter by itself this morning using binoculars.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0