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Space

‘Halloween comet’ could be visible during daytime this week — here’s the best time to see it

By
Alex Mitchell
Published Oct. 21, 2024, 6:41 p.m. ET

Talk about a Halloween treat.

A recently discovered comet will be blazing by the Earth in broad daylight just in time for Halloween, astronomers say.

Comet C/2024 S1, first found at the end of September, will pass around the Earth on Oct. 24, according to planetary astronomer James Wray of the Georgia Institute of Technology, who advises to “look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.”

A special so called "Halloween comet," Comet C/2024 S1, is on its way by Earth this week. Seen are stargazers searching for recent Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan.
A special so-called “Halloween comet,” Comet C/2024 S1, is on its way to Earth this week. Seen are stargazers searching for the recent Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan. AP

“Then, after swinging around the sun, the comet may reappear in the western night sky right around Halloween.”

A NASA report on what Forbes billed as the “Halloween Comet” — found by Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii — stated that the space rock has “gotten a lot of attention” for not breaking up as it closes in on the sun.

The new comet, Comet C/2024 S1, will prospectively be visible during daytime, astronomers say. Stargazers are seen viewing recent Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan.
The new comet, Comet C/2024 S1, will potentially be visible during daytime, astronomers say. Above, people are seen viewing Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“It may become bright enough to see during the daytime,” Gordon Johnston of NASA wrote. “I expect that at night this comet will only be visible with binoculars or a telescope, as its path will not bring it very close to the Earth.”

Johnston added that the latitude areas around Washington, D.C. could see the comet above the horizon as early as Monday, Oct. 21, before morning twilight.

“If it doesn’t break into pieces too small to see around closest approach, it should also be visible (with binoculars or a telescope) from Nov. 2 to Dec. 19 as the comet speeds away from the sun.”

During the comet’s closest approach, Johnston — who sourced a model suggesting 7:12 a.m. to 8:06 a.m will be its brightest times — estimates it “will be bright enough to see during the daylight for about an hour or two.”

Another recent comet, Comet C/2023 A3 is seen overhead. In the next few days, Comet C/2024 S1 will pass by the Earth.
Another recent comet, Comet C/2023 A3, is seen overhead. In the next few days, Comet C/2024 S1 will pass by the Earth. AP

While Africa, Europe, and South America are “best situated” for viewing, on the East Coast of the U.S. it will be at its brightest on the sun’s lower left side after sunrise.

“Which means we will be viewing it through more air, increasing the chance of interference from scattered sunlight and clouds.”

During daylight, Johnston strongly advises against using a pair of binoculars or a telescope to look near the sun for eye safety purposes.

Comet C/2024 S1 is believed to be fragments of “the Great Comet of 1106,” which broke up when passing the sun 918 years ago. Meanwhile, 1106 is potentially made of another outer space object, Aristotle’s Comet of 371 BC.

“This comet was so bright it cast shadows at night like the full moon,” wrote Johnston.