Look up! This comet won't pass by Windsor-Essex again for another 80,000 years

It's been a good year for celestial events in Windsor-Essex, with views of the Northern Lights this fall and totality of the solar eclipse this spring.

Now, a once-in-a-lifetime comet is visible in the sky.

The A3 comet short for TsuchinshanATLAS is making its pass by earth. It won't be visible again for 80,000 years, according to scietific projections.

"This comet comes from very, very far away," said Bob McDonald, host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks.

"Now, it's already gone around the sun. It went around late September and now it's on its way out and it's above the plane of the solar system. So, we in Canada can now start to see it."

How to see the 'once every decade' comet A3 passing by Earth

5 days ago

Duration 2:18

In a year that included a rare total solar eclipse visible in parts of eastern Canada, as well as the most visible northern lights in decades, comet TsuchinshanATLAS, also known as A3, is dazzling stargazers the world over as it passes near Earth.

The comet was first discovered last year at observatoriesin South Africa and China.

But your opportunities to see it are limited: It was on full display over the weekend, but the comet will get progressively more dim as it gets further from earth, McDonald said. This comet will be visible until about Oct.20 in the western sky, shortly after sunset.

Randy Groundwater is with the Royal Astronomical Society's Windsor chapter. He says the time to see it is shortly after sunset.

"The two most important things to look for in choosing a site to view the comet is a horizon looking towards the west after sunset that is free of trees or houses or any obstructions as much as it is possible, and also to get away from the lights of the city as much as you can, as much as it's practical," he said.

Groundwater said people shouldstart bylocating the planet Venus a bright object on the horizon that looks almost like an airplane light and locate another bright star, Arcturus, to the upper right of Venus. The comet will appear in between.

Sheri Lynn Koscielskiis a Girl Guide leader of a troop that has taken a special interest in astronomy, including a week-long camp over the summer.

She says she'll be taking her Guides out to see the comet in Amherstburg, adding thatthe Northern Lights and the solar eclipse are "all just really unique things, and getting an opportunity to see them is kind of exciting."

Koscielskialso leads a local robotics club.

Colton Pizzano and Carter Gannonsay they're looking forward to catching the comet.

Northern lights put on rare show over Lake St. Clair

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On Monday night, the northern lights made an appearance over Lake St. Clair. Nick Seman captured this timelapse video at Tremblay Beach.

"I've always been interested in space ever since I was a kid," Pizzano said. "Having the ability to see such cool events within space such as comets passing by is just something that we never get to experience, so being able to experience it in our lifetime is really cool."

"I've never experienced something like this before," said Gannon.

While it was a little cloudy Tuesday night, Dave Phillips, meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the skies are poised to co-operate for the rest of the week.

Look for the horizon, without light pollution

McDonald and Groundwater offer a few tips to people hoping for the best possible view of the A3 comet as it passes:

• Make sure to go somewhere with an unobstructed view of the horizon around or just after sunset.

• Try and avoid light pollution as much as possible.

• Look westward for a small streak in the sky, about 40minutes after sunset.

• Depending on weather and nearby light pollution, it may be possible to see with the naked eye.

• Binoculars help.

• If you can't see it with your naked eye, try locating it with your iPhone camera: New cameras are so advanced they can offer a better view than the naked eye.