Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS to be visible across Norway this weekend

The comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, which last appeared 80,000 years ago, will be visible to the naked eye this weekend and throughout the following month. This exceptionally bright comet is anticipated to be one of the most brilliant seen in recent years.

Initially spotted in the Southern Hemisphere in early October, it displayed a tail approximately 30 times larger than that of a full moon. The comet will be best viewed starting Friday, October 11, particularly in the western sky at sunset. Optimal viewing conditions are expected in areas such as Østlandet, Sørlandet, and inland parts of Troms this Friday evening, with the best weather projected for Troms, Finnmark, and northern Nordland on Saturday night.

Joakim Martin from the astronomy association Deep Sky Exploration expressed the significance of this event, noting that while many comets appear regularly, this one is expected to be exceptionally bright, surpassing even the famous Hale-Bopp comet of 1997.

Described affectionately as “dirty snowballs” in the scientific community, comets consist of gas, dust, ice, and water frozen into solid form. Their size can range from about 100 meters to 30 kilometers, with orbits varying from a few years to hundreds of thousands of years as they travel through the solar system.

To see the comet, viewers should look westward around sunset, aiming for the darkest location possible, away from artificial light. On Monday, October 14, the comet will be observable for approximately two and a half hours after sunset, conditions permitting. The best weather forecasts indicate clear skies over Østlandet and the western coast of Norway, enhancing the likelihood of a spectacular view.