Have you heard about the comet that's visible in the night sky during the second half of October? It's viewable in the Big Country right after dusk, starting on October 12 and continuing through October 31. As we move further into the month, it will rise higher in the sky. You can spot it looking west-southwest, with the best viewing time around 45 minutes after sunset. This is when the comet, moving slowly toward the horizon, is illuminated by the sunset, showcasing its long, wispy "anti-tail."

Now, let's dive into what comets are and what makes this one special. According to NASA, comets are essentially cosmic snowballs made of frozen gases, rock, and dust that orbit the sun, much like our planets. When frozen, they can be the size of a small town -- think of places like Anson or Coleman. As a comet approaches the sun, it heats up, releasing dust and gases and forming a glowing head larger than most planets in our solar system. This material creates a tail that can stretch for millions of miles. There are billions of comets orbiting the sun, found in the Kuiper Belt and even farther in the Oort Cloud.

One interesting aspect of comets is their unpredictability. Although they can be hard to forecast, especially regarding their brightness, thanks to advancements in observational technology, we often know when they're approaching.

Now, let's focus on C/2023 A2 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Discovered in 2023 as it approached the inner solar system on a highly elliptical orbit, this is the first time humans have observed it. Its name honors the Tsuchinshan (or "Purple Mountain") Observatory in China and the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. Typically, comets struggle to survive their close encounters with the sun, often breaking apart due to the heat. While there were concerns about T-ATLAS, it not only survived but remained somewhat intact, making it particularly noteworthy.

This comet made its closest approach to Earth -- 44 million miles away -- on October 12, which was the best day for viewing. However, it's still visible for the next couple of weeks. One fascinating feature of T-ATLAS is its "anti-tail," a rare occurrence where the tail appears to point toward the sun rather than away from it. While anti-tails can sometimes be optical illusions, the one on T-ATLAS is genuine and was first observed on October 12 and will again be visible on the 15th as Earth crosses the comet's orbital plane. This feature can help indicate the comet's trajectory.

To see T-ATLAS, look out to the west shortly after sunset; this week, it should be near the bright planet Venus. If you spot Venus, you're close to finding the comet! Remember, as we progress through October, it will climb higher in the sky, so don't miss out on this incredible cosmic event!

In the Big Country, specifically in Coleman, Texas, Priscilla Cervantes (Cilla♡C Photography) captured some breathtaking images of C/2023 T-ATLAS on October 13, 2024, just after Sunset.

If you have any photos of C/2023 T-ATLAS, send them to us on Facebook or email us at [email protected]!