Rare comet lights up the sky and won't return for 80,000 years

(FOX 9) – A rare comet that won't be seen for 80,000 years will be visible in the night sky for part of October.

Comet sightings

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas makes its modern debut in spectacular fashion. It is the first time this comet has been visible to Earth in more than 80,000 years, and it was first discovered by NASA in 2023.

Comets are frozen remnants of the formation of the solar system. The reason comets have a tail is because it heats up as the comet swings toward Earth.

Barry Stevenson captured comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley, as seen in the Storyful video above. NASA's Matthew Dominick also captured a time-lapse from the International Space Station showing the comet emerging over the horizon just before sunrise. The video also captured the glow of the Northern Lights and some satellites moving above the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, people on Earth have submitted photos of sightings in Minnesota, which you can see in the gallery below.

Tips to see the comet

The comet will appear in the western sky about half an hour after sunset each evening through part of October.

The best visibility will be achieved over the next few days before it slowly fades to the naked eye and disappears at the end of the month.

The current trajectory shows that it will take 80,000 years for this comet to fly past Earth again if it survives its next trip around the sun.

Graphic of Tsuchinshan ATLAS sighting opportunities. (Source: National Weather Service Glasgow, Montana) (Included)