Comet last visible when Neanderthals were alive could be spotted this weekend
Stargazers in the southern hemisphere have already glimpsed Comet A3 but it can now also be seen in the northern hemisphere from October 12
by Rosie Shead PA · ChronicleLiveA comet that last graced the skies when Neanderthals roamed the Earth is set to be visible to the naked eye this coming weekend, as stated by scientists.
Named Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), it is being dubbed "the comet of the century" by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) due to its expected brightness and visibility.
The celestial body, which astronomers pinpointed for the first time in January 2023, is believed to have last appeared around 80,000 years ago.
Although southern hemisphere sky-watchers have already been treated to views of Comet A3, those in the northern hemisphere are now poised to catch a glimpse, according to RAS.
From October 12 to 30, the comet might be observable with binoculars or even just the human eye. Dr Robert Massey, deputy director of the society, suggests in an instructional video on their website that photographing the comet could be achievable, especially with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
The RAS provides further insight, explaining that the comet hails from the Oort Cloud – a vast, spherical outer region surrounding our solar system, home to billions of astronomical objects including comets.
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