Max InwoodAstronomy fans, get your binoculars and cameras ready—an unusually bright comet may be set to grace the night sky.
Although it will be very low on the horizon before dawn, it will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere from now on.
But the best views are expected in mid-October, which is visible to the naked eye.
Soon after it was first discovered, there was speculation that it might be one of the brightest comets in years. That excitement is fading, but it should still be something worth watching.
The comet was first observed in January 2023 by the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and later independently detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).
This helps explain its full name C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). People call it Comet A3 for short.
Since then, astronomers have been tracking its progress, watching as it brightens and approaches its peak visibility.
Unlike asteroids, which are made entirely of rock, comets are composed of ice, rock, and gas.
As they approach the Sun, heat turns their ice into gas and releases dust particles trapped in the ice, causing their beautiful tails.
This latest comet is visible in the Southern Hemisphere and is now visible in the Northern Hemisphere as well.
But it is very difficult to predict how bright each comet will become.
Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, said: “Bright comets are extremely rare, so if you get the chance to see one, even if you have to use a pair of binoculars, go for it. The tail and the features are absolutely beautiful.
Dr. Massey is skeptical about some of the expectations for this particular comet.
“Is it going to be the brightest comet in 100 years? I doubt it,” he says.
Can you see the comet and how?
Dr. Massey recommends looking for the comet in two periods.
Whether you need binoculars or a pair of binoculars, it will be visible in the eastern sky for the next week or so.
This time there will be a good chance from October 12 after sunset in the western sky.
With some luck, you can even see the comet with the naked eye.
“You walk out and say, ‘Wow, there’s a comet!’ You don’t even need a telescope,” says Dr. Massey.
“Comets are unpredictable, but we never know when the next one will appear, so don’t miss this opportunity,” he adds.
With clear skies and perfect conditions, this comet can provide one of the most mesmerizing astronomical events of the year.
The comet could become as bright as Comet Neovis, which was a remarkable sight during the pandemic in 2020, and scientists say it’s unlikely to surpass that brightness.
