Comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-Atlas, seen above Mount Hood on Oct. 13.

A bright streak in the early evening just after sunset, comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-Atlas, has been appearing higher each night in the western sky since mid-October.

The once-in-a-lifetime comet last passed by Earth some 80,000 years ago, astronomers say.

As it moves farther from the sun, Tsuchinshan-Atlas is also expected to grow fainter, eventually fading from view by early November. By late October, you might need binoculars to see it. After that, you’ll need a telescope.

According to NASA, scientists initially thought the comet might disintegrate after making its closest pass by the sun on Sept. 27. On Oct. 12, it came closest to Earth at about 44 million miles away.

Tsuchinshan-Atlas was first detected in 2023 at China’s Tsuchinshan, or Purple Mountain, Observatory and by a telescope in South Africa called ATLAS, an acronym for Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.

“By Oct. 14, the comet may remain visible at the midway point between the bright star Arcturus and the planet Venus,” a press release from NASA said.

High vantage points with open views to the west are recommended, starting at about 45 minutes after sundown. That could mean beaches or high cliffs like Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain.

That is, if the weather cooperates. Here in the Pacific Northwest, and especially out on the coast, cloudy skies of fall have mostly obscured the comet from view.

If you have a photo of comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas to share, send it to editor@discoverourcoast.com.