Illinois Gets A Look At The “Comet Of The Century” This Week

I'm guessing that most of us have never heard of Comet C/2023 A3. We've also probably never heard it referred to as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or even Comet A3.

If you have, I apologize for assuming you haven't. If, like me, you've never heard any of those names for the same comet, don't worry about it. Just try to find a little time in your busy schedule to get outside, look up, and enjoy a visit from a comet that won't be back this way for a very, very long time.

How long is a very, very long time?

In the case of Comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or Comet A3...it's about 80,000 years. I just read a piece that stated the last people on Earth to have seen this particular comet were the Neanderthals. Seriously.

Comet A3 Is The Brightest Comet We've Seen Come Through In 27 Years, The Brightest Comet Since Hale-Bopp Was Visible In 1997

Last Saturday, Comet A3 was at its closest point to Earth, coming within 44 million miles away, but don't worry if you didn't catch it on Saturday because even though the comet is now moving away from us, it will more than likely be easier for us to see it over the next few days.

The one thing we did miss by not catching Comet A3 at its closest point is something called an anti-tail, which this comet featured prominently a few days back (and this guy is really fired up about it):

Here's What You Need To Know If You're A Skywatcher Who Wants To Check Out A Rare Comet Over The Next Few Days

Keep in mind that you'll be able to see Comet A3 almost through the end of the month, because it will still be visible up until October 30th. However, with each day that passes until then, the comet's brightness will diminish.

Your best bet is to try to catch it now through the weekend.

Here's another good thing about going out to view the comet: You don't have to do it in the middle of the night or super early in the morning, just go outside a bit after the sun sets and look to the west, according to EarthSky.org:

Every evening now, Comet A3 will appear a bit higher from the western horizon, in the hour or so after sunset. Its perihelion (closest point to the sun) was September 27. So it’s now moving away from us, and thereby getting fainter. And yet, in the days ahead, the comet should be easier to see than it was for its morning appearance last month. That’s because many comets are brighter after perihelion. And it’s because the comet will be farther each evening from the sun’s glare.