How to see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS | NASA explains
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00:00October offers a chance to observe what could be the brightest comet of the year.
00:05Earlier this year we got a look at Comet 12P, which was visible with binoculars but not super bright.
00:11Now another of these ancient and icy dust balls is streaking through our neighborhood on an
00:1680,000 year orbit from the distant reaches of the Oort cloud. The comet, known as C2023A3,
00:23aka Suchanshan Atlas, is currently speeding through the inner solar system. It passed its
00:28closest to the Sun in late September and will be at its closest to Earth on October 13th,
00:33and after that time through the end of the month will be the best time to look for it.
00:37This is when the comet will become visible low in the western sky beginning during twilight.
00:43It will quickly rise higher each subsequent evening, making it easier to observe,
00:47but it'll also be getting a little fainter each night. As with all comets, predictions for how
00:52bright it could get are uncertain. If the comet's tail is brilliantly illuminated by the Sun,
00:58predictions show that it could become bright enough to see with the unaided eye.
01:02But comets have a way of surprising us, so we'll just have to wait and see.
01:07Your best shot at seeing it will be from around October 14th through the 24th,
01:11with binoculars or a small telescope and a reasonably clear view toward the west.
01:16So good luck and clear skies, comet hunters!