NOS News•yesterday, 09:53
If the weather is clear, a comet can be seen from the Netherlands this month that comes close to Earth once every 80,000 years, or perhaps never again. This is comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas), which will be about 70 million kilometers away from Earth.
The comet is almost 3 kilometers in diameter and its tail of dust and gases stretches for tens of millions of kilometers.
If you want to see the comet, it is best to look at the western horizon just after sunset, Weerplaza advises. Tonight it is closest to Earth. But the comet is expected to be seen most clearly next weekend. On September 27, Tsuchinshan-Atlas was closest to the sun.
With naked eye
The natural phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye, but the American space agency NASA recommends using binoculars or a telescope. The head of NASA’s meteor service gave some tips during a press moment.
“The comet won’t hurtle through the sky like a meteor,” said Bill Cooke. “It will just look like it’s hanging there, and it will slowly change position from night to night. If you can see the comet with your naked eye, with the help of binoculars you will be amazed.”
Astronomers speak of a unique phenomenon. Due to the comet’s 80,000-year orbit, it would have last been visible during the time of Neanderthals. Because comets are so unpredictable, there is also a chance that C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas will never be seen again.
