[Baltimore Sun] Rare comet to be visible after northern lights reached Maryland
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It’s been a big week in Maryland for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers alike. Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the northern lights on Thursday saw colors dancing through the sky across the state. But even if you missed the spectacle, you may be in for another astronomical treat.
A rare, bright comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere this month, and it’s a once-in-80,000-year chance to see it. Here are some tips so you don’t miss another rare display in the night sky.
What is C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
Traveling from the Oort Cloud, a spherical shell around our solar system that stretches beyond Pluto, the comet called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered in 2023 when it was approaching the inner solar system for the first time in documented history.
The comet passed at its closest point to the sun on Sept. 27, visible to night sky watchers in the Southern Hemisphere, and managed to survive the heat. It is expected to come within about 44 million miles from Earth on Saturday, Oct. 12, according to a NASA blog. The comet will be gone by November for several hundreds of centuries.
Who can see it
The comet will be easiest to spot from around Oct. 14, according to EarthSky, which provides scientific information and news on the cosmos and sky. As the comet moves quickly, it will appear higher in the sky.
The comet was in a better position for viewers in the Southern Hemisphere earlier this month, but viewers in the Northern Hemisphere should now be able to catch a glimpse.
Where to look
To catch the comet soaring by, look near the western horizon shortly after sunset. If you’re out stargazing on Saturday evening, 15 minutes after sunset, Astronomy Magazine recommends looking 10 degrees south of west and 12 degrees above the horizon.
In the Baltimore region, sunset is currently around 6:30 p.m. Be sure to have a dark vantage point and a clear view of the horizon away from a lot of light pollution.
When looking over the coming days, turn to the midway point between the bright star Arcturus and Venus, where you might spot the comet by Oct. 14.
Will the sky be clear enough?
The comet is expected to be visible to the naked eye, and Marylanders are in luck because most regions have clear skies forecasted for the coming week.
In the Baltimore region on Saturday night, the skies will become gradually clear, according to the National Weather Service. Sunday and Monday nights will be partly cloudy, but from Tuesday on, it’s nothing but sunshine during the day and mostly clear skies at night.
When can another comet be seen with the human eye?
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS might not be the only comet that could be visible this month, according to EarthSky. There’ve been hopes that a new sungrazing comet, Comet S1, could be bright in our sky by the end of October, but there have also been reports that it may disintegrate as it travels riskily close to the sun at its closest point, hence the term sungrazing.
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