SANTA ROSA, Calif. - The much-anticipated comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was recently spotted illuminating the night sky over Santa Rosa. The celestial event was captured by KTVU photographer Jaden Schaul, adding to the excitement of skywatchers in the Bay Area. Around 8 p.m. on Monday, the comet, which had reached its nearest point to Earth, offered a spectacular display.

Discovered on January 9, 2023, at an observatory in China, C/2023 A3 was initially mistaken for an asteroid. National Geographic notes that it will be approximately 80,000 years before the comet appears in our sky again, making this a once-in-a-lifetime event for current viewers.

Among those who witnessed the comet was KTVU viewer Darcie Kent, who observed it twice in two different locations. Kent first saw the comet at South Lake Tahoe, where the sight moved her to tears. Seeking further information online, she spotted the comet again the next day from Livermore Valley while watching workers harvest Malbec grape crops. Documenting such a rare occurrence in two locations is indeed a remarkable feat.

The comet's journey wasn't confined to California. Enthusiasts from Las Vegas, Boulder, and Tucson also reported sightings on social media. The spectacle was particularly breathtaking in late September when the comet danced with the Northern Lights. A videographer created a timelapse showing the comet juxtaposed against the Golden Gate Bridge on September 27.

NASA researchers had speculated that if the comet survived its solar encounter, it would reappear around October 12, a prediction that proved accurate with Monday’s sighting. Back on September 28, NASA’s 'Image of the Day' captured the comet from the International Space Station as it orbited 272 miles above the South Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand.

The brightness of the comet is determined by the amount of gas and dust it emits, and it is most visible after sunset above the western horizon. However, the window to catch a glimpse is closing, so skywatchers are advised to keep an eye on the northwest sky over the next two weeks as visibility continues to wane.