“The comet of the century” visible to the naked eye this weekend: exact time to watch

Daily Galaxy msn ^ | 27 Sept 2024 | Editorial Staff

[blueplum]

The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet, also named C/2023 A3, will reach its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, on Friday, September 27, 2024, at a distance of 59 million kilometers. As the comet journeys through the inner solar system, it offers an impressive display....

In the United States... From September 27 to September 30, the comet will be best observed in the southeastern sky, about an hour before dawn....

...the comet will be visible again in mid-October. On October 13, it will be at its closest to Earth, around 71 million kilometers away, and will be observable after sunset, looking west. This second appearance promises a spectacular display...

[blueplum]

Originating in the OORT cloud, "This extraordinary comet has not been near the Sun for approximately 80,000 years, making its upcoming approach a once-in-a-lifetime event for modern observers."

[SunkenCiv]

• [A]stronomy Picture of the Day - Comet A3 Through an Australian Sunrise [09/25/2024]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day - Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Approaches [09/23/2024]
• A comet may become visible to the unaided eye in the coming weeks. Here's how you can see it [09/23/2024]
• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) latest news, predictions and what to expect this autumn [06/26/2024]
• Newly Discovered Comet Is Making a Close Approach Toward the Sun; It Becomes as Bright as a Star in 2024, Astronomers Say [03/06/2023]

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I remember how spectacular Comet Kohoutek was back in 1973. Can’t wait for this one.

[rlmorel]

LOL, I just watched “Greenland” the night before last!

(A completely underrated film, by the way)

[Governor Dinwiddie]

[rlmorel]

When Haley’s Comet came around in 1986, my buddy and I were vacationing down in the Bahamas, went out drinking and ended up on our backs in the middle of the night in a nearby golf course looking up at the sky to watch the comet.

We woke up after the sun came up to the sound of golf carts going by just a few feet from our bedraggled heads. I had my old SLR camera in one hand and my telephoto lens in the other.

[SunkenCiv]

He led a bunch of gullible a-holes to their demise — a public service.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Halley’s Comet wasn’t all that showy either, as I recall. Comet Hale-Bopp was a good one, though.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

They all were supposed to catch a ride on comet Hale-Bopp.

[SunkenCiv]

Everybody did the Horizontal Bop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qsUz1Gic5s

[ifinnegan]

Lol.

Even Halley’s Comet was a dud.

[Robert DeLong]

It doesn't , but I guess it is observable without a telescope?

As long as I have been alive, I have never seen a comet.

Perhaps I can become a:

Starrider or is it Star Rider

[KarlInOhio]

From September 27 to September 30, the comet will be best observed in the southeastern sky, about an hour before dawn....

Looking outside and all I see is Hurricane Helene. Lots and lots of Helene. And not much else because the power is out in the neighborhood because of the comet. No, I'm joking - it's because of Helene.

[Freee-dame]

In the late 90s, I saw the Hale-Bopp comet. It was extremely bright and beautiful

[TBall]

I remember Hale-Bopp. That was back in my bachelor days when all the girls were running away from me.

[hoosierham]

I have power and rain.
Another astro event goes unseen by me.

[alstewartfan]

Applewhite “Marshalled” his drones onto the Hale-Bopp comet, only to learn that there was no food. Sad.

[airborne]

And once again, we have thick cloud cover all weekend.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I remember Comet Haley in 1986. Lots of hype but a fizzle of a comet.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Maybe next time around. I’ll only be 106 then.