Comet spotted over Mississauga and there’s still time to see it in Ontario

People are still catching photos of the “comet of the century” in southern Ontario.

Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is moving away from Earth but is still visible in the northern hemisphere night sky, according to Space.com.

The bright comet made its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 12. It is now visible only in binoculars for most locations for the rest of the month and into early November, Space.com said.

The comet has generated so much excitement, The Royal Astronomical Society suggested it could be called the “comet of the century”.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and Milky Way as seen from our laneway in the Madawaska Highlands #milkyway #cometc2023a3 #ontario #nightphotography #dacreontario #nikoncamera #nightsky #nightskyphotography #stargazing #z8 #nikon #nikoncanada #nikoncanadaambassador pic.twitter.com/JVCaNbpDrf

— Always An Adventure Inc® (@Tony_Nina) October 22, 2024

The comet was discovered in January 2023 and named after the two observatories that independently spotted it, the society said.

It appears in the inner solar system roughly every 80,000 years.

“This means it would last have been visible from Earth when the Neanderthals were walking the planet,” the society said.

Comet A3, from Welland, Ontario. #comet pic.twitter.com/st83VLFSd9

— Mike Collins (@mcollins3d) October 20, 2024

People have been posting photos of the comet this month.

On Tuesday evening, a resident captured a photo of the comet (below) about 45 minutes after sunset over Mississauga.