Once In a Lifetime Comet C/2023 A3 Is Visible In Western Sky This Week

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The Comet, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS came closest to Earth this past weekend. While over 43 million miles away, it can be visible to the eye.

“It’s pretty rare to have an opportunity to see a comet by eye like I said I’ve been here almost twenty years and there have been three of them in my time here. And this one on Sunday night was definitely the brightest one,” said Dr. Juan Cabanela, Professor at MSUM.

The comet has an 80,000-year orbit and this would be the second time it has passed Earth. It was just discovered last year by observers in China and South Africa–and now people around the world are setting themselves up to see it.

You don’t want to have an area with a lot of light pollution so you’re going to want to be out of the outskirts of Fargo or other areas like that. Where you don’t have nearly as much light,” said Dylan Haar, KVRR Meteorologist.

Cabanela says that even if you don’t catch sight of the comet now, it can still be visible by using a telescope a few months out from now.

“If we know a comet is there and we point a telescope we can spot them quite far out now. Halley’s Comet I think still can be spotted today and it’s not due back to the late 20’s..50’s..60’s something like that,” said Cabanela.

If you want to catch sight of the comet it is recommended to go to a clear area to view the western horizon after sunset.