BOSTON-De huge comet that’s starting to happen visible in the night sky in the United States won’t last too long. And once it’s gone, Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will not be visible from Earth with the naked eye for another 80,000 years.
According to NASA, you’ll need a clear view of the western horizon shortly after sunset between now and about October 24 to see it. So is it worth stepping outside at dinner time to catch a glimpse of this heavenly visitor?
Space weather expert Shawn Dahl says that “people should jump at the chance to see something so rare.” He said he could easily see the massive comet Monday from his vantage point in Wyoming.
“It’s very spectacular,” the Space Weather Prediction Center forecaster said.
Comet Atlas has a huge tail – and an anti-tail
One thing viewers will immediately notice is the comet’s tail of ice and dust, which is estimated to be as long as 20 million miles.
“The tail is huge,” Dahl told CBS Boston executive weather producer Terry Eliasen. “It’s created by the solar wind and its interaction with the sun.”
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Comet Atlas has even developed an anti-tail, which Dahl says looks like a small, thin line in front of the comet, but is not what it seems.
“That tail is kind of pointing towards the sun, but it’s actually an optical illusion,” he said. “It’s just a change in perspective from Earth.”
Where did the comet come from?
Dahl said Comet Atlas “has been on a long journey.”
“It came from the outer reaches of our solar system, something on the order of 1-2 light years away,” Dahl said. “It’s a comet with a very long period.”
According to NASA, the comet originated in the Oort Cloud, which lies far beyond Pluto and is believed to contain billions or trillions of pieces of space debris.
How can you see the comet?
The best time to watch is about 45 minutes after sunset. Dahl recommends looking for an area to the right of Venus, the brightest “star-like” object in the evening sky.
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You can bring binoculars, but they are not necessary.
“You just have to be patient and eventually it will be of a size that will be visible to your naked eye quite soon after darkness,” he said.
The incredibly rare comet sighting, the total solar eclipse from April and the beautiful one from last week northern lights show making this one of the best years for skygazers that Dahl can remember.
“Everything that ties together like that is just so fantastic because it really brings awareness to the beauty of space and our interactions with elements in our solar system, but also to space weather and how important it really is,” he said.
