Rare Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Approaches Closest Point to Earth
The comet, visible from mid-October, won't return for another 80,000 years.
- Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be closest to Earth on October 12, at a distance of about 44 million miles.
- The comet was discovered in 2023 by observers from China's Tsuchinshan Observatory and the ATLAS telescope in South Africa.
- Visible in the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will appear as a bright fireball with a long tail, best viewed with binoculars.
- Forward scattering will cause the comet to appear brightest around October 9, though sunlight may initially obscure visibility.
- The comet originates from the Oort Cloud and its orbit suggests it was last visible during the time of the Neanderthals.
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