Can you still see the comet this weekend? Yes – and you can see it in a dark sky, thanks to yesterday’s New Moon – but you’ll need binoculars or a small telescope.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS The comet, also called comet A3 and C/2023 A3, is no longer a naked-eye object but can now be seen several hours after sunset in a dark, moonless night sky. As a bonus, you’ll also have the chance to see extremely bright “Halloween fireballs” shooting stars from the sky. Southern Taurid meteor showerIt reached its peak this week.

Now located in the constellation Ophiuchus, the comet can be found just below the iconic “Summer Triangle” asterism, which consists of three bright stars stretching across the Milky Way.

Comet Tracker: Where is Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS?

The comet, currently 97 million miles (156 million kilometers) from Earth and shining at magnitude +6, is now growing fainter and smaller with each passing night.

If you don’t have binoculars or a small telescope, photograph the comet with a camera or smartphoneshows this more easily with a long exposure image of a few seconds.

Note: Times and viewing instructions are for observers at mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Check exact time sunset where are you and the comet’s setting times Stellarium Network For times that are right for your exact location.

Comet Tracking: Where is Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS on November 2-3?

Position: west, 56 degrees from the sun on Ophiuchus

Time: 60 minutes after sunset until approximately 22:30 local time

Size: +6

Comet’s distance from the sun: 89 million miles (144 million kilometers)

Comet’s distance from Earth: 97 million miles (156 million kilometers)

Comet Tracking: How to Find a Comet Using Venus?

Look to the southwest about an hour after sunset and you’ll see the bright planet Venus shining near the horizon. Above the planet will be the bright star Vega in the constellation Bush. One of the brightest, most famous and most important stars in the night sky, astronomers this week to create There is no evidence of giant planets around Vega.

Look halfway between Venus and Vega and with binoculars you will find Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.

Comet Tracking: How to Find a Comet Using the Summer Triangle?

Since Venus will set shortly after sunset and is in any case more difficult to see from northern latitudes, there is another way to find the comet using the stars of the Summer Triangle, which includes Vega. Find Deneb in Cygnus above Vega and Altair in Aquila to the left. This is the Summer Triangle.

Now, point to the horizon, creating a rough triangle between Altair and Vega. The third point is roughly where the comet will be.

Comet Tracking: What is Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS?

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is a long-period comet from the Oort Cloud, a sphere around the solar system that is home to millions of comets. Its coma is about 130,000 miles (209,000 kilometers) in diameter, and its tail extends about 18 million miles (29 million kilometers) into space. It has an orbital period of 80,000 years.

Check my flow For “comet tracker” articles, each includes helpful sky charts and tips for viewing the comet.

I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.