The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas graces the night sky and will not return for 80,000 years

October proves to be a great month for skygazers.

On October 10, the Northern Lights were visible to us in Missouri and possibly as far south as parts of Central America.

For the rest of the month there will be an object moving across our sky that will not return for eighty thousand years.

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, named after the two observatories that discovered it, should be visible for the rest of the month. Assuming clear skies.

It should be bright enough to see with the naked eye, but the best view is through binoculars or a telescope.

If you're trying to spot this interstellar traveler, you'll want to find a good spot away from the city lights with a clear view of the horizon.

Unlike the Northern Lights, which appeared higher up, comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will appear closer to the horizon.

After the sun sets, you should look west and find the constellation Virgo.

The comet will set about an hour and 40 minutes after it is first seen.

If you can't find the comet at first, Earth Sky recommends using a phone in night mode.

If you're not familiar with this setting on your phone, see our Northern Lights story for instructions.

What is a comet?

A comet is a frozen remnant of the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.

As a comet approaches our sun, it begins to heat up and develop its glowing tail.

Over the next night or two, the comet will have what is known as an “antitail.” The “opposite tail” points towards the sun and this is possible because the Earth is currently crossing the comet’s orbit.

The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas emerged from the so-called Oort cloud.

According to NASA, the Oort Cloud is like a bubble of icy, comet-like objects around our solar system.

If you are able to get out and view the comet, we encourage you to take photos and share them with us on Facebook or via our Chime In page.