Comet NEOWISE shines with a thin ion tail and a broader dust tail. The comet was discovered in March … [+]
What time will comet A3 be visible tomorrow? Comet A3, also known as Comet Tuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3), is currently aligning itself with a waning crescent moon that becomes smaller and more delicate each night.
The comet also gradually moves towards the eastern horizon before sunrise, making it more difficult to see. So you have to wake up very early and get a clear view of the eastern horizon.
Comet A3 is scheduled to be visible for the rest of this week before disappearing under the glare of the sun for a short period. It will reappear at twilight around October 12 for those in the Northern Hemisphere. On the evening after October 12 (when it will be about 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) or so closer to Earth), it will rise into the sky, hopefully much brighter. Either way, it should be visible in the west just after sunset.
Here’s how to see it tomorrow — and how to stargaze when you find it:
A sky chart of the view of comet A3, also known as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas), one hour before sunrise … [+]
Where Comet A3 will be seen: Tuesday, October 1
Location: East-Southeast, 21 degrees of the Sun in Leo
Time: an hour ago Sunrise where are you (around 07:00 US time)
Expected volume: +4.5
The comet’s distance from the Sun: 60.5 million km
The comet’s distance from Earth: 112.3 million km
Today, comet A3 was seen alongside a delicate crescent moon, a very rare sight!
Look east an hour before sunrise to see the comet on the right and a 1.5% illuminated crescent on the left. Begin your search about 75 minutes before sunrise, as the two will be seen in astronomical darkness that will last until about 60 minutes before sunrise. It’s a short window.
The night sky on Tuesday, October 1, an hour before sunrise with Comet A3 and a waning crescent … [+]
Stargazing with Comet A3
If you’ve made the effort to wake up an hour or so before sunrise just to see the comet with your naked eye, it’s also worth looking around at the night sky before dawn for some of the bright objects visible today.
If you look directly above the comet and the crescent you will see Mars, currently approaching its opposition in 2025. It is close to the Gemini stars, Castor and Pollux.
In the northeastern sky you will see the Big Dipper, while in the southeastern sky you will see the bright star Sirius and above it the constellation Orion, most famous for its three bright belt stars – Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.
Check my feed Each day this week and next, you can follow the daily Comet Tracker with celestial charts and tips for viewing Comet A3.
I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.
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