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Update on Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas

If you’ve been trying to see the new comet with no luck, don’t give up. It suddenly became much easier, starting Thursday evening, October 17. From tonight and lasting until the end of the month, it is slowly dimming but getting easier. That’s because it’s no longer super low or standing in front of bright evening twilight. See viewing tips below!

What Are Comets?

Comets are balls of frozen gases, rocks, and dust that blaze across our sky (unlike asteroids, which are made of rock and metal). They are best known for their awesome tail, which stretches out into the sky as the comet gets closer to the Sun.

Think of comets as comic snowballs—or, some people jokingly refer to comets as dirty snowballs! They are left over from the formation of stars and planets billions of years ago. Learn more about comets. 

Comet Tsuchinshan has Arrived!

The comet is officially named “C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.” The first issue is knowing how to say it. Although the comet is spelled Tsuchinshan, you should pronounce it as if it’s “.”

Reports of sightings all over the world started flooding into social media and websites around the 14th of October with some exceptional comet photos. It’s very possible that Comet Tsuchinshan will become the brightest comet of the century in mid-October, as many claim. 

You’ll see it for sure if you have binoculars, as long as you have clear skies!

The Best Day to See Comet Tsuchinshan

Since maximum brightness should take place when the comet is just 4 degrees from the Sun, it starts becoming visible to average skywatchers around October 15 through 18. For most, it was visible through binoculars and some by the naked eye. Go outside on the next clear night! The comet will be visible in dark skies through October 26, possibly the end of the month. 

How to View Comet Tsuchinshan

The main pain is that this comet will be low in the sky. Evening twilight will still be bright when the comet is visible. So, look when the comet should be brightest—a few degrees above the western horizon after sunset.

Here’s how to view it:

1. When to look: Look between 7 and 8 PM, in full darkness. Wait for 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.
2. Where to look: During the earlier part of that time frame, brilliant Venus appears very low in the west-southwest. The comet is now fairly high, directly above Venus. 
3. If you have binoculars: Sweep the lowish (but not super low) western sky, and the comet will really pop out as soon as you point at it. It’s quite large and beautiful, with its long tail angling up and to the left.
4. To the unaided eye: The comet is now visible from dark rural sites, but from large towns and cities, it might still be invisible. Nonetheless, it may be worth a try anyway.
5. If you have trouble seeing it, you’ll probably have much more luck using a camera. Already, this comet is a photographer’s object. It shows up beautifully with a few seconds of exposure. And just like many Northern Lights displays, the photographic view looks far better than the way it appears in person. 

Bottom Line: Comet Tsuchinshan should be visible to the naked eye if you know where to look. It will most certainly be a photographer’s comet! There will certainly be some gorgeous photos of this comet in the news.

And if bad weather keeps you from seeing it at all, just remember that a great comet typically comes along every 15 to 20 years on average. Our 21st century is still young. There will be others.