Photos: Rare comet spotted in Colorado
KDVR Fox 31
DENVER (KDVR) — A rare comet was spotted streaking across the Colorado sky the past two nights, with sightings anywhere from Highlands Ranch to South Park.
According to NASA, the comet, known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is about 44 million miles from Earth and came into view in mid-October and should stick around until the end of the month. After that, it won’t return for another 80,000 years.
While the comet is still millions of miles away, NASA said it can be seen with the naked eye. On Sunday and Monday night, some Coloradans were not only able to see the comet but they were able to photograph it as well.
FOX31 viewers from all over the state sent in pictures.
One viewer said they saw the comet in Akron at around 7 p.m. on Monday, while another viewer in Parachute was able to see the comet at around 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Other viewers in Loveland, Steamboat and Berthoud also reported seeing the comet on Sunday and Monday night.
If you didn't catch the rare comet yet, it will be visible for the rest of the week.
According to the Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels, nights this week will be clear enough to see the comet across the Front Range, with the best time to view the comet just after sunset.
Michels said peak viewing is on Saturday evening, but the nightly forecast over the weekend might make it hard to see. Michels said there will be clouds on Friday and into Saturday, but they might clear up later on Saturday.