COMET C/2023 A3 (TSUCHINSHAN–ATLAS) VISIBLE SOON AFTER 80,000 YEARS

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–Atlas), which astronomers believe orbits the Sun every 80,000 years, was discovered last year and is expected to soon be visible from Earth.

PHOTO: Kometa (Foto: EPA-EFE/CARLOS DE SAA)

This comet, not seen from Earth since the time Neanderthals roamed the planet, has reappeared in the sky. Astronomers say it could potentially be visible to the naked eye.

Comet C/2023 A3 was discovered by astronomers early last year and is thought to follow a highly elongated path around the Sun every 80,000 years.

Dr. Gregory Brown, from the Royal Greenwich Observatory, suggests the comet originates from the Oort-Opik cloud, located beyond Neptune's orbit.

“This is a vast, roughly spherical region surrounding the Sun, filled with icy remnants from the formation of the solar system,” explains the astronomer.

But now, the comet is passing through our cosmic neighborhood. After passing close to the Sun at the end of last month, it's expected to approach Earth around October 13.

“The thing about comets is that the closer they are to us, the brighter they appear. But the closer they are to the Sun, the brighter they get as well. So, the closest approach might not necessarily be the brightest moment,” says Dr. Brown, adding that this could happen around October 9.

At that time, however, the comet will be nearly directly between the Earth and the Sun. For this reason, the astronomer suggests the best time to spot the comet is a few days before or after that date.

“Nakedets are rare, and this one has the potential to be among the brightest we’ve seen in decades. So, it’s definitely worth looking out for,” Brown states.

However, it’s hard to predict with certainty just how much brighter the comet will become as it nears Earth.

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“By its appearance, it should be visible to the naked eye in good conditions, and there’s a chance it could get significantly brighter. But how bright? Honestly, we don’t know,” says Brown.

Brown mentioned that stargazers in both the northern and southern hemispheres have already had the chance to see the comet. At this point, he advises interested observers to look eastward in the early morning before sunrise, toward the constellation Sextans.

But in the coming days, it will move to the other side of the Sun, and starting around October 13, the best chances to see it will be in the evening after sunset, in the western sky near the constellation Boötes.

Brown notes that the comet will most likely appear as a smudge in the sky when observed with the naked eye – although its tail should be visible with binoculars or a small telescope.

Even if the comet’s appearance is not as spectacular as experts hope, stargazers can still take pride in knowing they are among the first humans to see a comet last visible during the Stone Age.