If you missed the aurora show on Thursday evening or want another celestial show, check the weather in the DC area on Friday evening and the following days for a chance to see a comet.

After dark, stargazers have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Comet A3 in the western horizon sky.

As Sky and Telescope said in a press release, it will be the first time in years that a comet has been visible, and Friday is the first chance to take a look at it.

If you aim low in the west at dusk, “the comet will appear higher in the sky and will be easier to spot over the course of the weekend. It will have its best visibility early next week,” Sky and Telescope said.

The key to seeing the comet is a clear view of the western horizon, free of tall trees, buildings and bright lights. It will also help your search immensely to have a pair of wide-field binoculars to scan the sky when it gets dark.

The bright planet Venus is a landmark to look for – Venus is easy to spot in the west. Venus, the evening star, cannot be overlooked.

Use Venus as a starting point.

“Extend your fist to arm’s length; The comet is about 2½ fists to the right of Venus. “The comet will still look tiny at twilight on Friday – like a fuzzy star with a small tail – and will set while twilight is still underway,” Sky and Telescope said.

The comet will be higher in the sky and easier to see this weekend and next week. Sometime in the next few weeks, A3 will begin to fade as it makes its way back to the far corners of the solar system. If you have a telescope, you should be able to look at it and photograph it until it is literally out of sight.

Take pictures of the Comet A3 with the appropriate exposure and composition using your smartphone and camera. The best thing to do is take a picture, see what it looks like, make any necessary corrections, and then try again.

I haven’t seen comet A3 yet, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know it.

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