This rare comet could be visible in the Hudson Valley sky this October

Residents of the Lower Hudson Valley may have a chance to witness another rare celestial event in the sky over the next two weeks.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as Comet C/2023 A3 and Comet A3, has not been seen from Earth in over 80,000 years. But shortly after sunset on Monday evening, October 14, the rare comet will be visible in the west near the horizon between the star Arcturus and the planet Venus.

Luckily for amateur astronomers, the nights through Saturday are expected to be mostly clear, meaning the chance of catching this once-in-a-lifetime sight is high.

According to CCNY Planetarium, the comet will be visible in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere until October 26, but the further it gets from the sun, the fainter the light will be. However, on Monday, October 14, it will likely be “as bright as the North Star.”

When is the best time to see the comet?

Astronomers at the CCNY Planetarium in Manhattan said the best time to see the comet is 30 to 40 minutes after sunset, directly above where the sun just set. In the Lower Hudson Valley, that's about 6:40 p.m

For the best view, try to move to an elevated location to avoid tall buildings blocking the view, and have binoculars or a telescope handy.

Did you catch a glimpse of the comet? Send us your photos via bit.ly/lohudthroughyoureyes.

This article originally appeared in the Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Yorkers could spot a rare comet over the Hudson Valley in October 2024