This month brings a rare cosmic event as a comet makes its presence known in Earth’s atmosphere—an extraordinary visitor that only passes by every 80,000 years. The last time this comet navigated near our planet, it was inhabited by Neanderthals who relied on stone tools for survival. Now, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is being captured on camera by astronauts aboard the International Space Station as it orbits the sun.
The comet reached its closest approach to the sun on September 27 and is now prominently visible in our night sky as it nears Earth. Astronauts on the ISS have been monitoring the comet’s progression, and for those of us on the ground, the upcoming days promise to be the best opportunity to witness this dazzling phenomenon race across the heavens.
NASA revealed in a recent update, “Although the comet is ancient, it was only spotted in 2023 during its first documented encounter with the inner solar system on a highly elliptical orbit.” They note that starting around mid-October 2024, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) will be visible in the western sky after sunset. If conditions are favorable, including good sunlight illuminating the comet’s tail, it could be visible to the naked eye. The optimal viewing period is between October 14 and 24, where binoculars or a small telescope would enhance the experience.
Apart from Dominick’s stunning image, various NASA missions have also caught glimpses of this celestial body. A remarkable photograph was taken as the comet passed the NASA/European Space Agency’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), yielding a breathtaking view on October 10.
The unique tail of comets is attributed to their particular makeup. Unlike asteroids, which consist primarily of rock, comets are made up of a combination of rock and ice. As they approach the sun, the ice warms and evaporates into gas, which forms their stunning tails.
However, this phenomenon also makes predicting a comet’s brightness and longevity quite challenging since they can disintegrate based on their ice content and the rate at which they break apart. While there were hopes for this comet to be a dazzling “comet of the century,” it has turned out to be relatively dim. According to Space.com, the comet may already be fragmenting and could be nearing the end of its visibility. If witnessing this ancient spectacle is on your list, it’s best to act quickly.