Comet last seen in stone age to make closest approach to Earth

[Rick]

Comet last seen in stone age to make closest approach to Earth

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–Atlas) was discovered last year and is thought to orbit the sun every 80,000 years.

A comet that has not been seen from Earth since Neanderthals were alive and kicking has reappeared in the sky, with astronomers saying it might be visible to the naked eye.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–Atlas) was discovered by astronomers early last year, and is thought to orbit the sun about every 80,000 years on a highly elongated path.

Dr Gregory Brown, the senior public astronomy officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the comet was thought to have originated in the Oort cloud, which lies beyond Neptune's orbit.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/01/comet-last-seen-in-stone-age-to-make-closest-approach-to-earth