Tonight (Tuesday) offers the final opportunity to witness Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), often called the “comet of the century”, before it leaves our skies for the next 80,000 years.
The comet has been visible in recent nights, captivating star-gazers across the United Kingdom.
Comet A3 at its brightest
On Monday night, the comet reached its peak brightness, delighting those who ventured outside to catch a glimpse.
Although the brightness of Comet A3 will begin to fade, it will still be possible to see it on Tuesday night, provided the weather remains clear. As we write, the skies above Ventnor are shrouded in cloud cover.
Viewing conditions tonight
For those hoping to catch a final look, the best time to see the comet is around sunset, which will occur between 6pm and 6.30pm BST across the UK.
While it won’t be as bright as Monday, the comet is expected to remain highly visible in the evening sky.
A rare opportunity
This comet, with its unique brightness and long orbital period, has generated considerable buzz among both professional astronomers and casual stargazers.
With just one more night of optimal visibility, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most.
After tonight, Comet A3 will gradually become fainter, and then, it will disappear from view, not to return for tens of thousands of years.
The image at the top was captured by Jonathan Cook Fisher above South Lake Tahoe, California.
[Apologies to those reading this article in the Wednesday morning newsletter. We only just became aware of this today. Ed]
