Stars to be outshone by the comet coming to Earth soon

After a host of celestial treats the past year, fans of astronomy will be treated to yet another heavenly phenomenon in 2024, as a particular comet will be passing close to the sun for the first time in 80,000 years.

Named C/2023 A3 or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, the comet will make its nearest-ever approach to the sun, coming to within 35 million miles of it on Sept. 27, 2024. Two weeks after that, the comet will be a mere 44 million miles away from the Earth.

Given its projected relative proximity to our planet, scientists believe that the comet could shine as bright or brighter than a star when it comes close to the Earth in the fall on Oct. 12.

Scientists ask sky gazers to temper expectations

For all the excitement generated by the coming comet, sky-gazers should brace themselves for the possibility of being disappointed. Comets are notorious for breaking up, since they are a loose clump of ice, rock, and dust, with a penchant for breaking apart when heated by the sun, and C/2023 has an awfully long way to go.

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Will the C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet be visible to the naked eye?

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If C/2023 A3 does manage to hold itself together on its journey, the comet could be visible to those with amateur telescopes beginning next month, according to Live Science. However, the best views will likely be available in late October. Under ideal conditions, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS could glow as brightly as the planet Venus at its most brilliant.

Astronomers however stress that though the comet has a good chance of being visible to the naked eye when it approaches the Earth comes, C/2023 A3 must survive the trip first before it can put up a good show.