Where is comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS tonight? It’s not too late to see comet A3 (also called C/2023 A3), but it’s no longer a bright, naked-eye object in the post-sunset sky.
After being visible in twilight for much of the last two weeks, the comet is fading and shrinking, yet still a relatively bright, deep sky object visible well into true darkness. From tonight, it’s affected by moonlight from the waning Hunter’s Supermoon.
Where To See Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Tonight
Comets are difficult to see in light-polluted night skies, so head away from the city to somewhere that looks dark on a light-pollution map with a western horizon free from the glare of a city. Or you could find a Dark Sky Place near you.
Although its magnitude of +3 makes it technically visible in a dark sky, you’ll almost certainly require binoculars or a small telescope to see it. An alternative is to photograph the comet with a camera or a smartphone; a long exposure image helps it show up more easily.
Note: times and viewing instructions are for observers at mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Check the exact time of sunset where you are and the comet’s setting times on Stellarium Web for times that are accurate for your exact location.
How To Find Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: Tuesday, Oct. 22
Position: west, 49 degrees from the sun in Ophiuchus
Time: from 60 minutes after sunset where you are until about 22:00 local time
Magnitude: +2.4
Comet’s distance from the sun: 70 million miles (112 million kilometers)
Comet’s distance from Earth: 62 million miles (100 million kilometers)
This evening, the comet will be visible high above the western horizon from about 60 minutes after sunset, setting just under three hours later.
If you’re able to see bright Venus and the bright star Arcturus, make them the endpoints of a coat-hanger shape — the comet will be the hook above them.
If you can’t see one of these (since they are relatively low on the horizon), instead use bright star Vega above due west. Draw an imaginary line straight to the horizon from Vega and make a coat-hangar shape on the left — the comet will be the hook to the side. Scan with a pair of binoculars until you find it.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
