Three comets are gearing up to put on a show, and with a little planning you can spot them with binoculars or a small amateur telescope. If the summer of 2020’s Neowise got you hooked on skywatching, late November and December bring fresh reasons to look up.
Here’s what to know and when to look:
– 210P/Christensen
– What it is: A periodic comet discovered on May 26, 2003 by Eric Christensen during the Catalina Sky Survey. Its nucleus is estimated at about 1.7 kilometers across.
– When to look: Late November.
– Where to look: Low on the eastern horizon in the Northern Hemisphere.
– How to see it: Dark-sky conditions are essential; binoculars may suffice under very good skies, though a small telescope will improve your chances.
– 3I/ATLAS
– What it is: An interstellar visitor, the third known object from outside our solar system to pass through. Its size isn’t precisely known, but it may be around a kilometer in diameter.
– When to look: Late November.
– Brightness: Expected magnitude around 11–12.
– How to see it: Not visible to the naked eye. Plan on using a telescope and get as far from light pollution as possible.
– C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)
– What it is: A comet discovered on March 3, 2024 by Kacper Wierzchos that still holds many mysteries.
– When to look: Potentially visible in December from the Northern Hemisphere with binoculars or a telescope. From January 20, 2026, it should favor the Southern Hemisphere.
Helpful observing tips to boost your chances:
– Choose dark, clear nights and avoid dates with a bright Moon; the week around the new Moon is ideal.
– Travel away from city lights. Rural sites dramatically improve contrast and visibility.
– Start your sessions early, allowing your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark. Use a red flashlight to preserve night vision.
– Stabilize your optics. A tripod or monopod makes a big difference, especially for binoculars.
– Check the eastern horizon for 210P/Christensen in late November and plan low-altitude views early in the session.
– Use a sky map or astronomy app to plot the comets’ positions for your location and date.
– Keep expectations realistic: comets often appear as diffuse, ghostly smudges rather than bright “movie-style” objects.
A quick word of caution
Comets are unpredictable. As they near the Sun, they can brighten, fade, fragment, or even disintegrate. Forecasts may change quickly, and local weather is always a wild card. Keep an eye on updated magnitude estimates and be ready to adjust plans.
If you love celestial events, mark your calendar for late November and December, gather your gear, and head for dark skies. With patience and a bit of luck, you could add three new travelers—210P/Christensen, 3I/ATLAS, and C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)—to your observing log.
