At the end of September and into mid-October, the highly anticipated comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is expected to be visible to the naked eye for sky watchers around the world.
Astronomers are hopeful to catch a glimpse of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) just before sunrise over four consecutive mornings this weekend and into the following week. Additional opportunities to see this comet with the naked eye may arise in mid-October.
The comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible in the sky before dawn starting this weekend (Photo: Wladimir Bulgar / Science Photo Library).
Comet C/2023 A3 is expected to reach its maximum brightness on Friday, September 27, when it comes to perihelion, the closest point to the sun on its estimated 80,000-year orbit. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to see the comet a few degrees above the southeastern horizon about 30 minutes before sunrise from Friday, September 27 to Wednesday, October 2.
The ideal mornings to view this comet are Sunday, September 29, and Monday, September 30, when comet C/2023 A3 aligns with the waning crescent moon.
While C/2023 A3 can be seen with the naked eye, comets can be quite unpredictable and erratic, so it is advisable to use a good pair of binoculars or a small telescope for clearer observation.
Whether you see the comet with the naked eye or through binoculars, you should also be able to spot a large dust tail, a result of the dust and ice components of the comet melting slightly as it approaches the sun. Its brightness remains a mystery, although some astronomers predict it could shine as brightly as the 20 brightest stars in the night sky.
By September 30, comet C/2023 A3 will disappear into the dawn light for observers in the mid-northern latitudes, but anyone near the equator will still be able to see C/2023 A3 until October 2. After that, the comet will vanish in the brilliant sunlight when it is closest to Earth, and it will be positioned near the western horizon.
