Atlas comet tracker: Last chance to spot comet that may never return

NEW YORK - This October, outer space is giving stargazers a rare, celestial treat - an icy comet that will take 80,000 years to return – if it survives the trip – in the night sky!

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas made its closest pass to Earth of 44 million miles last weekend – but it's not too late to catch a glimpse of the bright space rock. In fact, now that it no longer needs to compete with a supermoon, this weekend could be prime-time for viewing!

JUMP TO: HOW TO VIEW THE COMET | NYC WEATHER FORECAST | WHERE DID THE COMET COME FROM?

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, the C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet, the brightest comet of the last 13 years is observed over the sky in Van, Turkiye on October 15, 2024. (Photo by Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Here's everything you need to know about the Atlas comet, including where it came from, how and when to view it and this weekend's weather forecast for curious New Yorkers. Plus, the comet's visibility may coincide with the peak of the Orionid meteor shower!

How to view the comet

Those hoping to spot the comet should venture outside about an hour after sunset on a clear night and look to the west.

The comet should be visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Astronomers say it will stay visible throughout most of the month as it slings towards Earth in the outer reaches of the solar system. According to Space.com, stargazers can keep looking for the comet until Oct. 26.

"As author David H. Levy wrote in Comets: Creators and Destroyers, "comets are like cats: they have tails, and they do precisely what they want." Arm yourself with a good pair of binoculars, and you'll have a chance to see comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS for some time," Space.com's Jamie Carter wrote.

NYC weather forecast this weekend

New Yorkers can expect bright, clear skies this weekend, ideal conditions for comet viewing. The catch: A bright waning moon may make them difficult to spot (Remember, a supermoon was Wednesday!)

• Friday: Clear skies, a bit breezy. High of 66. Low of 48.
• Saturday: A nice day, more clear skies. High of 50. Low of 51.
• Sunday: Even milder temperatures, clear skies remain. High of 74. Low of 54.

Where did the comet come from?

The comet, also designated C/2023 A3, was discovered last year and is named for the observatories in China and South Africa that spied it.

It came from what’s known as the Oort Cloud well beyond Pluto. After making its closest approach about 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) of Earth, it won’t return for another 80,000 years — assuming it survives the trip.

Several comets are discovered every year, but many burn up near the sun or linger too far away to be visible without special equipment, according to Larry Denneau, a lead researcher with the Atlas telescope that helped discover the comet.

When will the comet return? 

Astronomers say the comet could return in 80,000 years, but it's increasingly likely that due to the space rock's composition, it won't return at all. 

"Most comets have these incredibly long periods and maybe don't even come back," Drexel University Physics Professor Christina Love said.

Halley's Comet, for comparison, is considered a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event that returns every 75 years or so.

Orionid meteor shower

The Orionids -- one of two annual meteor showers from Halley's comet -- peak early Monday.

The Orionid meteor shower can be unpredictable. It shines like a fireworks display in some years, but is fairly slow in other years. This highly variable shower may result in anywhere from 20 to 60 visible meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions, said NASA's Bill Cooke.

This was moments before the fireball hit Earth's atmosphere, and broke into pieces during the Orionid meteor shower. (Brenda Tate & Tim Doucette via Storyful)

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This year’s peak activity happens on a night when a waning moon is 83% full. The shower lasts through November 22.

The Associated Press contributed to this report