MANILA. Stargazers in the Philippines are in for a celestial treat this week as Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will be visible in the night sky. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the rare comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday and should be visible until the end of October, weather permitting.
The comet, also known as C/2023 A3, was first discovered last year by observatories in China and South Africa. It is now hurtling toward Earth from the far reaches of the solar system, specifically the Oort Cloud, which lies beyond Pluto. After passing within 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) of Earth, it will not return for another 80,000 years—assuming it survives its journey around the sun.
According to PAGASA, the best time to view Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas in the Philippines is around an hour after sunset. For those hoping to catch a glimpse, clear skies will offer the best chance to spot the comet in the western sky. While it should be visible to the naked eye, using binoculars or a telescope will provide a better view of its iconic tail.
“It’ll be this fuzzy circle with a long tail stretching away from it,” said Sally Brummel, planetarium manager at the Bell Museum in Minnesota. Brummel explained that comets heat up as they approach the sun, releasing gases and dust that form their characteristic glowing tails.
Comets are ancient, frozen remnants from the formation of our solar system billions of years ago. While comets pass by Earth regularly, not all of them are bright enough to be seen without special equipment. “Several comets are discovered every year, but many burn up near the sun or linger too far away to be visible without special equipment,” said Larry Denneau, a lead researcher with the Atlas telescope that helped discover the comet.
Recent notable comets include Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s. Last year, a green comet that hadn’t been seen in 50,000 years also passed by Earth, thrilling skywatchers across the globe.
PAGASA advises Filipinos to take advantage of this rare opportunity to witness Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas. After all, this once-in-a-lifetime event won’t be repeated for thousands of years. So, if the weather holds, grab your binoculars and head outside for a chance to see this remarkable visitor from the outer edges of our solar system.
This rare sight is expected to be visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres, making it a global spectacle for astronomy enthusiasts. Keep your eyes to the sky, and don’t miss this cosmic show!
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
