A comet that hasn’t been visible from Earth since the time of the Neanderthals is about to make its closest pass to our planet tonight.
Comet C/2023 A3, also called Tsuchinshan-Atlas, is believed to orbit the Sun once every 80,000 years. This means its current journey through our solar system is the first time it’s been visible since early humans started leaving Africa.
Later tonight, the comet will pass so close to Earth that it should be visible with the naked eye, without needing binoculars or a telescope.
The comet was last seen at the end of last month, when stargazers in San Francisco caught a glimpse of it flying over the Golden Gate Bridge.
However, experts say that tonight will be the best chance for people in the UK to see it before it disappears for generations.
This is because the comet has now moved around to the other side of the Sun, making it visible in the evening skies across the UK.
A3 was first discovered last year by researchers and was spotted at China's Purple Mountain Observatory and with an Atlas (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. That’s why it’s named after both observatories.
The comet is believed to have come from the Oort Cloud, a huge shell of icy objects that surrounds our solar system and dates back about 4.5 billion years. The comet itself could be up to 25 miles (40 km) wide.
According to data from The Sky Live, the comet is currently about 44 million miles away from Earth, travelling at a speed of around 150,000 miles per hour.
Between tonight and tomorrow morning, it will reach its closest point to Earth, shining with a magnitude of +1 or +2 – similar in brightness to Polaris, the North Star, and almost as bright as planets like Venus on clear nights.
Of course, Britain’s weather could get in the way, so if the sky is cloudy, you might need to use your imagination instead.
But don’t worry if you miss it tonight! Dr Brown from the Royal Observatory Greenwich says the comet should still be visible in the UK skies into next week, especially on Tuesday.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
Download the official APP!
Gain access to over 1,600 hidden gems and their co-ordinates all over the UK when you download our app. Add gems to your bucket-list and tick them off as you go along, as well as earn rewards/badges when you visit a certain amount.
Users will also have acess to over 9,000 parking spots across the UK as well as over 1,600 staycations in the UK.
Commenti