00:00October offers a chance to observe what could be the brightest comet of the year.
00:05Earlier this year, we got a look at Comet 12P, which was visible with binoculars but not super
00:10bright. Now, another of these ancient and icy dust balls is streaking through our neighborhood
00:15on an 80,000-year orbit from the distant reaches of the Oort Cloud. The comet, known as C2023A3,
00:23aka Suchinshan Atlas, is currently speeding through the inner solar system. It passed
00:28its closest to the sun in late September and will be at its closest to Earth on October 13th,
00:33and after that time, through the end of the month, will be the best time to look for it.
00:37This is when the comet will become visible low in the western sky beginning during twilight.
00:42It will quickly rise higher each subsequent evening, making it easier to observe, but it'll also be
00:48getting a little fainter each night. As with all comets, predictions for how bright it could get
00:53are uncertain. If the comet's tail is brilliantly illuminated by the sun, predictions show that
00:59it could become bright enough to see with the unaided eye. But comets have a way of surprising
01:04us, so we'll just have to wait and see. Your best shot at seeing it will be from around October
01:1014th
01:10through the 24th, with binoculars or a small telescope, and a reasonably clear view toward the west.
01:15So good luck and clear skies, comet hunters!
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