Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Once in a lifetime comet in view

08:00
11 October 2024

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas
Once in a lifetime comet in view

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS pictured over western Japan in early October 2024.
Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas pictured over western Japan on October 1. - © picture alliance

A once-in-a-lifetime comet is currently within sight as it returns to our orbit for the first time in 80,000 years.

Comet C/2023 A3, also called Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is so close that, with good weather conditions, it will be visible to the naked eye.

The comet has passed its closest approach to the Sun, at which point it could have disintegrated, and will now quickly return into view.

Current visibility

From October 12th, the comet will be visible across the Northern Hemisphere for an hour after sunset each day. Look to the west, where the Sun sets, to spot the comet blazing through the sky.

Did you know?

Comets consist of ice, dust, and rocks. As they near the Sun, they become brighter but run the risk of falling apart as the heat increases. 

As with any astronomical event, you will have a greater chance of seeing the comet in a dark area away from light pollution.

Conditions are looking ideal for viewing on Saturday night, with largely clear skies and dry conditions, though a cloudier night to come on Sunday.

Remember to check the WeatherRadar before heading out to find the best day.

October's astronomy outlookread more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
UV levels peak with the heat today. Latest heatwave. . . Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Split graphic showing a temperature map of England and eastern Ireland with temperatures reaching 33°C near London, 32°C in Norwich, and 29°C around Birmingham on the left, alongside a person applying sunscreen with a UV icon on the right.
Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Latest heatwave

UV levels peak with the heat today
Clouds return to capture the scene. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 26 July 2026
Waxing crescent Moon above vivid pink and magenta sunset clouds, with silhouetted trees along the horizon beneath a deepening blue twilight sky.
Sunday, 26 July 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Clouds return to capture the scene
Heavier rainfall over the week for some. Ireland & Scotland. . . Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Split image showing a Europe rainfall accumulation forecast map on the left with the highest totals across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia, and a satellite weather map on the right with a broad band of rain stretching across Ireland, Scotland, and northern Britain, highlighted by a rain cloud icon.
Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Ireland & Scotland

Heavier rainfall over the week for some
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan. Up to 1,000 mm of rain. . . Wednesday, 8 July 2026
The image shows an intense tropical cyclone over the western Pacific, east of Taiwan and the Philippines. The centre of the system is depicted as a light purple and white vortex with a clearly visible eye, surrounded by a ring of red and orange areas indicating the strongest wind speeds. A white arrow marks the typhoon’s predicted track towards the north-west, in the direction of Taiwan. To the west of the storm lie the Philippines, with the cities of Manila and Cebu; to the north of these lies Taiwan, with Taipei. Further west, the Chinese coast, including Hong Kong, and parts of Vietnam can be seen. The coloured wind map shows predominantly green areas outside the storm’s core, indicating significantly weaker winds. White streamlines illustrate the typhoon’s anti-clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest wind speeds are concentrated around the eye of the cyclone.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Up to 1,000 mm of rain

Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList