Catch the “Comet of the Century” Before it’s Gone Forever

A comet at sunset.Photo byForsaken FilmsonUnsplash

The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet will still be visible in the evening sky for the next few days. According to NASA, this comet called C/2023 A3 by scientists was discovered in 2023 after approaching the inner solar system for the first time documented in history. It made its closest transit to the sun on September 27 and can be seen through October 24 using binoculars or a telescope in a dark environment. If the sun illuminates the comet's tail, it may be visible to the naked eye.

NASA astronomers originally said C/2023 A3 would not be seen again for 80,000 years. New data suggests it may leave our solar system completely. If you can, get out there and look for it.

The comet appears every night on the western horizon approximately 15 minutes after sunset and remains visible for 45 minutes. To see it, let your eyes adjust to the dark, and then look slightly above the comet rather than keeping it in the center of your vision.