Comet last seen 80,000 years ago still visible in UK skies

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A comet that was last visible from Earth around 80,000 years ago has been detected in North-East England.

The C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) comet traveled across the night skies of Northumberland, delighting stargazers equipped with telescopes at the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park.

Even though it was found in January of the previous year, astronomers stated that it could have been seen during the time when Neanderthals roamed the Earth.

Comets consist of dust, ice, and tiny bits of rock, and they are frequently referred to as "dirty snowballs."

They revolve around the sun similarly to planets, but their orbits are more elongated in shape.

As comets approach the sun, they start to heat up, which leads to the release of more unstable substances like gases and ices that were trapped inside. These materials make their way out through fissures in the surface.

Astronomers believe this can complicate predictions about the trajectory a comet will follow as it moves through the solar system.

Dr. Megan Argo, an astrophysicist from the University of Central Lancashire, mentioned that comets are particularly challenging to forecast with precision ahead of time.

She explained that these heavenly bodies can form "tails" when their cores, which are made of rock and ice, start to break apart.

This trail of gas and dust can become so luminous that it may be visible without any optical aid, and potentially even during the day if you know where to direct your gaze, she mentioned.

The comet was initially spotted on September 29 in various nations in the Southern Hemisphere, but reappeared last week, looking "brighter" in the night sky.

Dr. Argo explained, “It's crucial to understand that comets appear as diffuse, blurry objects in the sky instead of the sharp points that stars have. As a result, their brightness will be more dispersed across the sky.”

If you didn't get a chance to see the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, astronomers suggest that it should still be visible with binoculars for the next few weeks. After that period, you'll likely need a telescope to catch a glimpse of it.