A comet that hasn’t been visible from Earth since the time of the Neanderthals around 80,000 years ago is set to make an appearance tonight, with astronomers dubbing it the “comet of the century.” Comet A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was first spotted in January 2023 and has been hailed by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) for its potential brightness and visibility.
While stargazers in the southern hemisphere have already had the chance to catch a glimpse of Comet A3, those in the northern hemisphere can now also witness its splendor. Between 12 and 30 October, observers may be able to see the comet with binoculars or even the naked eye as it moves closer to the Sun, weather and light pollution permitting.
The comet is expected to be visible during two windows of time. The first window, between 27 September and 2 October, will display the comet in the eastern sky just before dawn. The second window, from 12-30 October, will offer a view of the comet in the western sky just after sunset. The brightness of the comet remains uncertain, with its closest approach to Earth set to occur over the weekend.
Nasa astronaut Matthew Dominick, currently aboard the International Space Station, described Comet A3 as resembling a “fuzzy star” in the night sky. He anticipates capturing captivating images of the comet as it moves nearer to the Sun. Dr. Robert Massey, deputy director of the RAS, suggested that taking photographs of the comet might be feasible, especially with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
Comet A3 originates from the Oort Cloud, a vast spherical shell surrounding our solar system that contains billions of objects, including comets. The comet’s reappearance has generated excitement among astronomers and skywatchers alike, offering a rare opportunity to witness a celestial event last seen in ancient times.