Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has just emerged from behind the sun, and its appearance has astronomers buzzing with anticipation. The comet is brightening rapidly on a curve that suggests it could reach negative magnitudes in October, possibly bright enough to see or photograph in broad daylight (Spaceweather.com).
"We will have to wait and see if this comet gets very bright. At best it could look like a short, faint jet contrail . . . or not," says Terry Atwood, an amateur astronomer living near Boxley.
"Even Comet Hyakutake in March 1996 which stretched 100-degrees across the night sky or Comet Hale-Bopp in May 1996 was not noticeable in daylight even though it was visible at night from large cities with light polluted skies," he said.
