Ultra Rare Comet Will Shine Over the UAE on October 19th

An ultra-rare comet, C/2023 A3, will be visible from the UAE later this October. This remarkable event occurs only once every 80,000 years, with the comet expected to be most visible on Saturday, October 19th according to the Dubai Astronomy Group.

According to NASA, C/2023 A3 will be one of the more spectacular comets, featuring a particularly long, streamer-like tail.

To get the best view of the comet, stargazers should steer clear of cities and light pollution. Recommended viewing locations in the UAE include the Al Sadeem Astronomy Centre, Al Quad Milky Way Spot, Shuweihat Island and the Hajar Mountains.

A comet is a small celestial body made of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun. As it nears the Sun, its ice vaporises, forming a glowing coma and a tail that extends millions of kilometres.