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This October, skywatchers will be treated to an extraordinary astronomical event occurring once every 80,000 years, as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS makes its approach to Earth. Discovered in 2023, this comet—officially designated C/2023 A3—has garnered attention in the astronomy community, with some labeling it the “comet of the century.” Its brightness could potentially surpass that of nearby stars and even the planets like Jupiter and Venus. However, the actual visibility of the comet remains uncertain, as predicting the appearance of comets can be quite challenging. Nonetheless, this unpredictability has generated excitement among enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether or not you can see the comet with your own eyes hinges on its luminosity. “There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the potential of Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) becoming a prominent fixture in our night sky,” stated Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society. “I would recommend using binoculars or a telescope with a wide field of view to spot it. However, it may also be visible to the naked eye. We’ll just have to wait and find out.”
Comets shine so brightly because they are composed of rock and ice. As they near the sun, the heat causes the ice to convert into gas, which reflects sunlight and creates a dazzling glow. The gas expelled forms the characteristic tail. As of now, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is on its course around the sun and is expected to be at its peak brightness during its passage by Earth in mid-October.
If you are eager to catch a glimpse of the comet, start looking towards the constellation Sextans, especially in the early morning hours just before sunrise (ideal for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere). The comet is anticipated to become more radiant as mid-October approaches. For the best viewing experience, find a location away from city lights and look just above the horizon.
Photographing the comet is also a plausible endeavor. “If you have a quality DSLR camera, taking a series of exposures can yield great results, as many astrophotographers have found,” Massey advised. “Moreover, if you possess a good smartphone camera along with a small telescope, you can position the smartphone against the telescope’s eyepiece to capture an image. This technique worked well with previous comets like NEOWISE, and it may be effective with this one too, depending on its brightness.”
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