BOSTON – Comet Atlas has flirted with Massachusetts. It started very low on the eastern horizon a few weeks ago and has now reappeared in the west in the evening.

So far, though, there hasn’t really been an ideal evening for watching here in the Northeast. Astronomically the last few nights would have been good, but clouds ruined the show.

How to see Comet Atlas

Well, maybe your time has come! The next few nights will likely be our best opportunity to view Comet Atlas before it disappears from view.

About 45 minutes after sunset on Tuesday (now at 6:01 PM), you should have a clear view of the western horizon. I would suggest finding Venus first, the brightest and most recognizable object in that direction.

Look at the top right, about two fists apart (extend your arm and place two fists together) and you should be able to see the comet and its extended tail.

A few clouds will develop Tuesday afternoon, some of which may linger until sunset. Therefore, we cannot promise that everyone in southern New England will have a clear picture. If you miss it, you’ll get a few more chances this week.

Each night after sunset the comet will be a little higher in the west. The trade-off: With each passing night, it will also fade in brightness as it moves further and further from Earth.

It should be quite easy to see with the naked eye over the next few nights, but later this week and this weekend you might want to grab some binoculars.

Brightest supermoon of 2024

The coming one Hunter’s super moon will add a new level of intrigue. Unfortunately, temperatures will rise very close to sunset later this week.

This will brighten the night sky significantly and make the comet more difficult to spot.

On the bright side, this will be the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2024, so you get two for one on Thursday night!

This is called a perigean full moon when it is closest to Earth in its orbit, just over 220,000 miles away. It will appear 30% brighter and 15% larger than a typical full moon.

Supermoon high tide

Another thing to think about: the supermoon will also cause our tides to be at their highest point in 2024. Fortunately, there will be no storms coming later this week that will worsen the situation, but we will still likely see minor coastal flooding begin. Thursday and will continue for a few more days.

As always, we’d love to see and share your photos! You can send them to [email protected]. Good luck and enjoy watching!