Rare comet visible in Southwick caught on camera

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WWLP) – A 22News viewer captured a rare comet on camera that won’t return for tens of thousands of years.

Comets are leftover debris from when the solar system formed and are composed mainly of dust, rock, and ice, according to NASA. As they approach the sun, they send out gases and dust, which create their iconic tail. Some comets completely break up from the heat of the sun, but those that survive could take many years, even centuries before they approach the Earth again.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as C/2023 A3 to scientists is expected to be visible to the naked eye across the Northern Hemisphere for several weeks in October, with the best opportunity between Oct. 12 and 26, according to NASA .

The comet was photographed at 7:15 p.m. on Monday overlooking Powder Mill School in Southwick, Massachusetts.

According to Space.com , the comet will be most visible a few minutes before sunrise or a few minutes after sunset. Binoculars or a basic telescope will help give you a better view.

Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, if it survives, won’t return to Earth for another 800 centuries.

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