Will there be a Northern Lights alert tonight in the wake of one of the most vivid displays of aurora for 20 years? Probably not, but there is another reason to be outside at sunset — a comet called C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). With a naked-eye brightness and a large tail, it’s set to be equally unmissable.
Thursday, Oct. 11, was a crazy night worldwide, with a severe G4 — and possibly even the top-rated G5 — geomagnetic storm happening across the planet.
From Asia to Australia and Europe to North America, unbelievable images of stunning displays are coming from all corners of the globe. The planetary K-index reached an 8, just one shy of the top mark of Kp 9. The aurora was seen as far south as Arizona and Florida in the U.S.
When And Where To See Northern Lights Tonight
The chances of seeing the Northern Lights tonight are high but will largely depend on your location. NOAA has updated its forecast and downgraded the storm to a G1 level, with a Kp index of 4. This means that the aurora borealis will likely only be visible in the northernmost regions of the United States, such as parts of Minnesota, Montana, and northern Michigan.
The best time to view these lights will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., and it’s ideal to be in a dark, open area away from city lights for a clearer view. For real-time updates, you can check NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website.
However, don’t despair. Judging by the current propensity of the sun to produce X-class solar flares in recent weeks, another major geomagnetic storm could happen at any time. The sun is gradually moving towards its “solar maximum,” the peak of its 11-year cycle where solar activity like flares and geomagnetic storms are at their highest. This increases the chances of major solar events occurring at any time. We’ll have a clearer understanding of this on Tuesday, October 15, when NASA and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center hold a joint press conference to discuss the current Solar Cycle 25.
When And Where To See And Photograph Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Tonight
On Friday, October 11, once the sun sets, it will be possible to look toward the west about 45 minutes later. Following this, we will be able to see comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with our naked eyes. This is an exciting opportunity for stargazers, as the comet is positioned favorably in the sky, making it visible shortly after sunset.
Discovered early in 2023 by China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory and South Africa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope, comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)This comet has been orbiting for approximately 80,000 years, and it originates from the distant Oort Cloud surrounding our solar system. As it travels through space, it follows a long and elliptical path, which brings it closer to the inner solar system at certain intervals. Consequently, this allows us to observe it during its approach..
Tonight, the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) will be located close to the western horizon, with Venus visible to its left. According to Sky & Telescope, it will appear between Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, and Arcturus, the brightest star in Boötes. This positioning makes it an excellent opportunity for stargazers to observe the comet against the backdrop of these prominent stars.
To observe the bright core of this comet, you should position yourself close to the horizon, where you will see its dusty tail pointing upwards. This tail is expected to be quite bright due to “forward scattering,” which allows sunlight to reflect off it and travel towards Earth, thus reaching your eyes.
Moreover, if the comet is difficult to see tonight because of twilight, don’t worry. You can return on Saturday or Sunday when it will be higher in the sky and visible in a darker environment. This will enhance your chances of observing its beauty.
In addition to C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), another comet has been discovered: C/2024 S1 (Atlas). This comet is expected to come close to Earth on October 23 and will reach its perihelion—its closest point to the sun—on October 28. According to experts, it could shine with a brightness of magnitude -8.3, which would be extraordinary.
Moreover, this brightness level would make it one of the most spectacular comets visible in recent years. This means that it could outshine many stars and be easily observable from Earth, giving stargazers an exciting opportunity to witness its brilliance.