How to Watch the Rare 'Once-in-a-Lifetime' Comet in October

Mar. 15, 2025

Comet C2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas.Photo:MARIANA SUAREZ/AFP via Getty

MARIANA SUAREZ/AFP via Getty

Stargazers will be able to witness a “once-in-a-lifetime"cometin the night sky this weekend.The Oort Cloud comet — also known as the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS — will be lighting up the sky starting Oct. 9 through the rest of the month in a rare celestial event.Comets are “frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ice,” perNASA. They can vary in size, and as they get closer to the sun, they “heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head” to form the characteristic tail that can span millions of miles, per the government agency.TheTsuchinshan-ATLAScomet was discovered in 2023, per NASA. At the time, scientists determined that it came from the Oort Cloud — a region well beyond Pluto that contains a ton of frozen debris. The comet successfully passed the sun on Sept. 27 and scientists said it will come within approximately 44 million miles of Earth on Oct. 12.Here’s everything to know about the upcoming Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet including when and where to see it in the night sky.When will the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet be visible?(TsuchinshanATLAS) comet and the waning moon.Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via GettyThe Oort Cloud comet will reach peak visibility between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, perNASA. The comet will be closest to Earth on Oct. 12 and should remain visible for the rest of the month.Where will the comet be visible?The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over Madrid, Spain.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via GettyThe comet will be visible in the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet, but countries like Brazil, Australia, Argentina and Peru will have the best chance of seeing it in the night sky.How do you watch the comet?Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over L’Aquila, Italy.Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via GettyThe comet will be visible to the naked eye, but you can also view it with binoculars or a telescope to get a better glimpse.NASA astronomer Bill Cookerecommended a “dark vantage point looking southwest” would be best to view the comet. He also said that the comet would be near the Sagittarius and Scorpio constellations in the sky.If the weather doesn’t hold up or you can’t escape the city lights, theVirtual Telescope Projectwill also be hosting a livestream on Oct. 9.Will the comet be visible again?The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over Monfrague National Park in Spain.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via GettyAfter its rare appearance in October, NASA confirmed that the comet won’t return for another 800 centuries – if it’s even able to survive that long.NASA astronomer Bill Cooke explained that “comets are more fragile than people may realize, thanks to the effects of passing close to the Sun on their internal water ice and volatiles such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.”

Stargazers will be able to witness a “once-in-a-lifetime"cometin the night sky this weekend.

The Oort Cloud comet — also known as the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS — will be lighting up the sky starting Oct. 9 through the rest of the month in a rare celestial event.

Comets are “frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ice,” perNASA. They can vary in size, and as they get closer to the sun, they “heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head” to form the characteristic tail that can span millions of miles, per the government agency.

TheTsuchinshan-ATLAScomet was discovered in 2023, per NASA. At the time, scientists determined that it came from the Oort Cloud — a region well beyond Pluto that contains a ton of frozen debris. The comet successfully passed the sun on Sept. 27 and scientists said it will come within approximately 44 million miles of Earth on Oct. 12.

Here’s everything to know about the upcoming Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet including when and where to see it in the night sky.

When will the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet be visible?

(TsuchinshanATLAS) comet and the waning moon.Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty

Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty

The Oort Cloud comet will reach peak visibility between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, perNASA. The comet will be closest to Earth on Oct. 12 and should remain visible for the rest of the month.

Where will the comet be visible?

The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over Madrid, Spain.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty

Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty

The comet will be visible in the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet, but countries like Brazil, Australia, Argentina and Peru will have the best chance of seeing it in the night sky.

How do you watch the comet?

Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over L’Aquila, Italy.Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty

The comet will be visible to the naked eye, but you can also view it with binoculars or a telescope to get a better glimpse.

NASA astronomer Bill Cookerecommended a “dark vantage point looking southwest” would be best to view the comet. He also said that the comet would be near the Sagittarius and Scorpio constellations in the sky.

If the weather doesn’t hold up or you can’t escape the city lights, theVirtual Telescope Projectwill also be hosting a livestream on Oct. 9.

Will the comet be visible again?

The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over Monfrague National Park in Spain.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty

After its rare appearance in October, NASA confirmed that the comet won’t return for another 800 centuries – if it’s even able to survive that long.

NASA astronomer Bill Cooke explained that “comets are more fragile than people may realize, thanks to the effects of passing close to the Sun on their internal water ice and volatiles such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.”

source: people.com