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The comet C/2023 A3, known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is creating a lot of buzz as it makes its way past Earth in mid-October 2024. This rare event, the first in about 80,000 years, has been dubbed by some as the “comet of the century” due to its potential brightness. While the comet is currently making its way around the sun, it could outshine many celestial objects like Jupiter and Venus when it reaches peak visibility in October.
Comets are primarily made of rock and ice, and as they approach the sun, the heat causes the ice to sublimate into gas, giving comets their glowing appearance and signature tails. If Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS lives up to the hype, it could be visible even to the naked eye, though binoculars or a telescope might give you a clearer view depending on its final brightness.
For optimal viewing, it’s best to look toward the constellation Sextans about an hour before sunrise, particularly if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. As with most stargazing, you’ll want to be far from city lights and pollution to increase your chances of spotting the comet just above the horizon.
If you’re into astrophotography, you can capture the event with a DSLR camera using a series of exposures. Even mobile phone cameras can work if paired with a telescope, or simply pointed skyward if the comet is bright enough, similar to what worked with Comet NEOWISE in 2020. Either way, mid-October is shaping up to be an exciting time for skywatchers!