There’s a lot of excitement on social media this week about a comet making its debut in the night sky. The comet, named Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (pronounced SOO-CHEEN-SHAN), was discovered in 2023 and is set to be visible from Earth for the first time in recorded history.
Comets are composed of frozen rocks, dust, and gases that orbit the sun. Their striking appearance occurs when they approach the sun, causing the gases to heat up and create a glowing head. Some comets can have heads larger than planets, with tails that can stretch millions of miles.
This week, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible low in the western sky about 45 minutes to an hour after sunset. Its brightness will gradually diminish throughout the week, and its position will rise higher in the sky. Similar to the northern lights, it will be easier to spot the comet in areas with minimal light pollution.
The comet will remain visible until October 24th and won’t return for at least 80,000 years, potentially leaving the solar system entirely.
Conditions for viewing this week are favorable, with a series of clear nights expected.
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