How to see a rare comet in Calgary starting tonight - Action News
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How to see a rare comet in Calgary starting tonight

A Calgary professor says a special comet may be visible to the naked eye right here in Calgary later this week if you miss it, you might not be able to see it again for another 80,000 years.

'Find a site where the western horizon is clear,' says professor

A bright object with a tail is seen in amongst many stars.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as C/2023 A3, is seen here from Farm Hakos, Namibia, on Aug. 1. (Pepe Chamb/www.cometografia.es)
LISTEN | Professor Alan Clark talks about Comet TsuchinshanATLAS:
We hear about a massive comet that's rocketing by the earth, and how you can catch a glimpse of it.

Discovered in 2023 by observatories in South Africa and China, a comet known as Comet TsuchinshanATLAS (C/2023 A3) has been making its way closer to Earth.

Alan Clark is a professor emeritus with the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary and a co-founder of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory near Priddis, Alta. He says the comet may be visible to the naked eye right here in Calgary if you miss it, you might not be able to see it again for another 80,000 years.

It could be visible in the city startingThursday night, and as it continues to move,Calgarians could have multiple chances tosee it later this week and over the weekend.

"Find a site where the western horizon is clear,"he said.

"Keep a look on the horizon, and the moment the sun sets, you can scan the twilight, and as twilight fades, hopefully we'll see [the comet's] tailslowly fall down intobehind the Earth."

Clarkspoke with CBC Radio's Chris dela Torre on The Homestretch about how to catch a glimpse of the comet, and how to do it safely.