Here’s How To See the ‘Comet of the Century’ in Hawaiʻi
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is within 44 million miles of Earth.
Social media is ablaze with photos of what people are calling the “comet of the century.”
More like “comet of your lifetime.”
Sightings of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS started on Oct. 11 in the Northern Hemisphere, with people in Hawaiʻi flocking to southwestern coastlines just after sunset for a glimpse at this icy visitor from beyond Pluto.
Why? Because this is a super rare event. The comet orbits the sun once in every 80,000 years—and right now, it’s visible in the western sky after sunset, making it pretty easy to see, weather permitting.
Also, in case you were wondering, this is how the comet got its name. It was discovered in 2023 by observers at China’s Tsuchinshan—or “Purple Mountain”—Observatory and an ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. It was officially named in honor of both observatories.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from Ala Moana Regional Park in Honolulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Chang
Here’s how you can see it:
- Head west at sunset. Right now the comet will be higher in the western sky—and, with a full moon today (Hunter’s Moon)—may be harder to see. Find an area without much light pollution. You may have to wait about 20 to 45 minutes after sunset to see it in the sky. (Fun fact: The comet’s tail is 18 million miles long.)
- Look for Venus (brightest planet) and the bright star Arcturus (aka Hōkūleʻa) in the sky. The comet is situated between the two.
- You have until about Oct. 24 for the best views. While you should still be able to see it without any special equipment—just your eyes!—you should bring binoculars or a telescope for optimal viewing.
- Be patient—and have fun. Pack a picnic, bring your friends. You’ll never see this comet again in your lifetime, so you may as well enjoy it!
