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2024-11-11

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A bright comet will be visible in northern skies soon. How to see it. (www.usatoday.com)

submitted 2 months ago by m3t00 to c/science

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Where to look for C/2023 A3 in the night sky

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, comet C/2023 A3 can be found in the constellation Sextans and will rise one hour before the sun, according to Astronomy.com.

The comet will be best viewed in mid-October, rising up from the western horizon and be visible in the southwestern sky at nightfall, weather permitting. That will likely be its best and brightest appearance until it starts to fade from view by Nov. 7, according to SkyandTelescope.com.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Comet C/2023 A3's coma is about 2.8 feet in diameter and the tail measures about 16.9 feet in length.

Its closest approach to Earth will be on Oct. 11 or 12, according to BBC Sky at Night. It will still be about 44 million miles away.

It's so tiny! I'm surprised we can see something that small from such a far distance.

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, comet C/2023 A3 can be found in the constellation Sextans and will rise one hour before the sun, according to Astronomy.com.

The comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the evening, just after sunset, when it is low in the southwestern sky.

I'm confused. Is the best time to see it just before sunrise or just after sunset??