Here’s how to see this comet in Texas

Attention chiropractors and massage therapists in places like Winnie, Beaumont, Jasper, Lufkin, Tyler and Montgomery. Thanks to Mother Nature, you may have a few more patients in the next few days. Many Texans may have craned their necks and looked up to see the northern lights last week, but now there’s something new in the sky that Earthlings haven’t seen in over 80,000 years.

Scientists and astronomers call it comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). This is the official name “this comet” that many of you have been wondering about. You’ve probably seen pictures of it on your social media feeds.

It’s quite an impressive sight and many of you will be able to see the comet in the next few weeks. NASA astronomers predict that the best time to observe the comet will be from today, October 14, 2024, to October 24, 2024. However, you need to know when and where to look.

Luckily, the forecast for most of Southeast Texas and the Gulf South region is for clear skies during this time, and that should make for great comet viewing. According to NASA, you should look deep into the western sky after sunset.

The setting sun was expected to illuminate the comet’s tail, allowing Texas observers to view the spectacle with the naked eye. However, for a better look, you’ll probably need a small telescope or binoculars. Yes, you want to escape the city lights if possible.

The comet is believed to be about three kilometers across, with its tail of dust and gases stretching tens of millions of kilometers into space behind the comet itself. The object is believed to be very old, but was only discovered by modern astronomers in 2023.

For the best viewing opportunities, look low into the western sky in the minutes and hours after sunset. Make sure you can see the horizon. Perhaps a look at some of the crawfish ponds or pasture areas will give you the best opportunity.

And if you try to take a photo with your phone, make sure you open the exposure function and use your camera’s night photo features. I would also recommend that you use a tripod to keep the camera stable for the best images.

If you get some great pictures, we’d love to see them. Feel free to share these with us via our station app.

And if you go comet hunting later this week, make sure you have warm clothing for observing after Wednesday.

A cold front will move through the area on Tuesday, keeping daytime highs in the low to mid 70s on Wednesday, with overnight lows dropping into the 40s or cooler, depending on where you are.