Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) as seen from the Čergov mountain range in Prešov Region on October 12. (source: TASR)
It is always difficult to say when a comet visible to the naked eye appears in the night sky. Luckily for those who like looking up, the Tsuchinshan–Atlas comet is now visible even from the territory of Slovakia, even from cities and towns.
The best time to watch out for the comet is in the evening after sunset, usually around 19:30 and later. In addition, the weather and the moon have a lot to say, too. Luckily, the latter was full last Thursday and now is waning, which means it is appearing in the sky a little bit later every day. In other words, every day there is more time to spot the comet.
If you have a good view of the western horizon, you should be able to see it. Use the compass on your cell phone, or dedicated night sky apps such as Stellarium or Sky Guide, which will tell you what are you looking at.
However, watch out for strong light sources aimed directly at the eye, such as street lamps. To make the best of observations, you should find a place with as little light pollution as possible, preferably outside your hometown. Say if you are in Bratislava, it makes no sense to head east, because then you will have the city in front of you. A more prudent approach would be to head north. If you are in the eastern part of Slovakia, the best place would be Poloniny national park or the Gemer region.
One of the best tools for this purpose is the website Light Pollution Map.
If you want to take a picture, it is advised to use a camera and a tripod.
The comet should be still visible to the naked eye this week.
