If you haven’t made plans for this weekend, observing a comet passing by Earth could be an exciting way to spend your time.
Watching astronomical events is always a fascinating experience, as many Americans felt after witnessing the solar eclipse earlier this year.
In the coming days, another celestial event is set to occur: a comet visible from Earth for the first time in 80,000 years.
Comet-C/2024 A3, more commonly known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was first discovered in 2023, according to Astronomy.com. This weekend, it returns to our skies after an 80,000-year absence.
The comet is expected to be visible starting the morning of September 27 and will remain so until September 30.
Stargazers who were aware of this timeline might have already glimpsed the remarkable comet this morning.
For those who missed it, there’s no need to worry.
If waking up an hour before sunrise isn’t feasible for you this weekend, you might still have another opportunity to see Comet-C/2024 A3 around October 10th.
Depending on your location, those in the northern hemisphere should look towards the east-southeastern horizon about an hour before sunrise, according to VT.
CBS News also notes that the comet will appear a few degrees above the ESE horizon and be visible for an hour before sunrise, so act quickly to catch a glimpse.
While the viewing angle might pose a challenge for some, experts suggest the comet will be bright enough to see without a telescope. However, Live Science advises having a telescope or binoculars on hand as comets can be unpredictable.
When it returns in October, the comet is expected to be visible towards the west shortly after sunset.
This implies it will pass closer to the Sun, potentially getting lost in the Sun’s glare.
Given the difficulty in predicting comet behavior even a few weeks ahead, information about Comet-C/2024 A3’s second visibility period is less certain than its current appearance.
Happy comet hunting.