The northern lights have made so many appearances in the UK of late that they’re really no big deal now. Oh you saw the aurora borealis in rural Iceland two years ago? Alan from Birmingham saw them from his patio twice in the last month.
It’s going to take a bit more to impress us now. So, let the solar system present Comet C/2023 A3, nicknamed Tsuchinshan-Atlas. It was last seen by our neanderthal ancestors and only orbits the Sun once every 80,000 years
Some have called it the ‘comet of the century’, though one astronomer told Sky News that it probably won’t be as impressive as previous comets such as NEOWISE was in 2020 or Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s. Still, seeing it is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
The comet has been decreasing in brightness since Tuesday but could still remain visible until the end of the month. Here’s how you can still catch a glimpse.
What time will Comet A3 be visible in the UK?
According to Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, the comet will be ‘visible in the early evening skies’. He advises that you look up when it gets dark after the sunsets at around 6pm.
The best places to see the comet tonight
The comet will be visible across the country, so long as weather conditions are good. For a better chance of catching it, head to somewhere in the countryside that has minimal light pollution and obstruction from high-rise buildings. One of these places is probably your best bet.
What’s the forecast?
The fog we had this morning will clear in eastern parts of the country and will mostly be dry for the rest of the day. However, conditions in the west are looking a bit more unsettled. The Met Office says there’s the possibility of gales across the northwest — not ideal for stargazing.
How much longer will Comet A3 be visible?
If the weather doesn’t work in your favour tonight, there could still be a chance to spot the comet before it disappears. Experts say that people may be able to see it with binoculars or even the naked eye up to October 30.
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