Comet last spotted by Neanderthals set to grace the skies this October

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–Atlas), last seen when Neanderthals roamed Earth 80,000 years ago, will be visible in October 2024. It may reach a brightness of magnitude 2.5 to 2 at its closest approach to Earth on October 12. Stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere can best view the comet after October 13 in the evening sky near constellations Leo, Hydra, and Crater. Originally discovered in early 2023, this long-period comet from the Oort cloud has surprised astronomers with its unpredictable behavior.