The comet was discovered in January last year and is expected to be as bright as the 20 brightest stars in the night sky, according to astronomers. Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Stargazing Scots are set for a celestial delight as a "once in a lifetime" comet is due to make an appearance, potentially visible without the need for telescopes. The comet, known as C/2023 A3 or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, could shine as brightly as the top 20 stars that light up our night sky, according to astronomers.
Live Science reports the comet's estimated orbit around Earth to be every 80,000 years, making this a once in a lifetime opportunity. “We may be in for a much brighter comet than predicted,” Nick James of the British Astronomical Association told the Independent . Discovered in January 2023, this comet hails from the distant Oort Cloud, which encircles our solar system with countless comets and icy fragments.
There will be two prime opportunities to catch a glimpse of this extraordinary event . The comet is anticipated to be most luminous between Friday, September 27 and Wednesday, October 2. With its dual tails—one a pale white and the other a soft blue—C/2023 A3 might be seen by keen-eyed observers here on Earth.
However, for those at mid-northern latitudes, the comet will become obscured by th.
