An comet known as A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or comet A3, is making a once-every-81,000-year flyby of Earth’s solar system.
The comet currently visible in the southern hemisphere sky will become visible in the northern hemisphere in mid-October, appearing in the western sky in the early morning hours.
As it gets brighter approaching the sun, it may become bright enough to see with the naked eye without a telescope. However, comets are unpredictable so it’s uncertain just how bright it will get.
NASA astronauts have been posting photos of the comet taken from the International Space Station.
The comet has an extremely long orbital period of around 81,000 years, so astronomers seeing it now will likely be the only ones in modern history to observe it before it disappears from view for another 81,000 years.
In mid-October, people in Kansas and other places should start looking for it low in the western sky after dark. It will be best viewed on nights with no moonlight or cloud cover.
The comet’s behavior as it swings around the sun will determine if it can potentially be seen during daylight hours or just remain an evening object bright enough to see without optics.
Source: ksnt
