Many people around Moose Jaw have had their heads in the stars over the last week and will for another handful of days with Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas passing by Earth.
Found in 2023 by astronomers, Tsuchinshan-Atlas has been making its way towards Earth for tens of thousands of years. On September 27, it wrapped around the sun and now is making its way out of the solar system while passing by earth.
"We probably have another week or so that it will be visible to the naked eye, and then another several weeks you'll still be able to see it through binoculars, said Pierre Schierle, past president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Regina Centre.
Comets are always passing through our solar system. However, comets like Tsuchinshan-Atlas, are very infrequent because of how bright it is.
"It's probably been 25 years since we've had one this bright. But there are comets every month to look at if you have binoculars," stated Schierle.
To view the comet before it jettisons itself out of range, when the sky is clear you need to get outside of town to avoid light contamination and to a place where you have a clear horizon to the west. Watchers will want to be out at their chosen location around 6:30 PM as the comet will be situated low in the western sky.
"You'll probably see it between seven and eight O'clock. Get one of those apps on your phone that shows you the constellations in the sky. You want to look for it in the constellations of Serpens and then in a few days Ophiuchus," instructed Schierle.
The chart below will show you where Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will be in the coming days.
