Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh may get a chance to see an ancient comet this month

Published

1 year ago

October 12, 2024

Pittsburgh may get a chance to see an ancient comet this month

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — An ancient comet discovered last year is passing by Earth, and Pittsburghers may get a chance to see it if conditions are right.

KDKA-TV went to Pittsburgh astronomers and astronomy lovers to find out how to catch a glimpse of the rare astronomical event.

This year has been full of cosmic reasons to look up. We put on our protective glasses to view a total solar eclipse. We were captivated by the northern lights more than once. We’ve even been dazzled by meteor showers.

“Now we have a comet,” said astronomer Diane Turnshek, a physics lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University and instructor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Physics and Astronomy Department.

“If I get to see the comet, it’s just one more this year before the year is out for celestial events,” said astronomer Simonetta Frittelli, a Duquesne University physics associate professor.

The comet, known as C-2023-A3 aka Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, will be closest to Earth on Oct. 13. Then it’ll put on a show after sunset each day through the end of October. The best time to view the comet will be between Oct. 14-24.

“It should be visible to your naked eye in the dark sight, possible to your naked eye here in Pittsburgh, and certainly with binoculars and a small telescope,” said Kerry Handron, Allegheny Observatory’s special events and outreach coordinator.

Handron said using binoculars or a telescope will be very helpful, and you can also see the icy dust ball by taking pictures on your phone using night mode/longer exposure times.

“The comet is going to be fuzzy. It’s going to have a tail, maybe two tails. That would be exciting, and we’ll find it in the west,” Handron said.

“Right after sunset looking west, maybe a little south, you should see the comet right as the glare of the sun goes away, and a coma, the dirty snowball part has a big, long trail, which is always pointed away from the sun,” Turnshek said.

“It’s close to the sun so you have to look westward when the sun goes down, and wait a little bit,” Frittelli said.

As the comet moves away from the sun, it’ll get higher in the sky, making it easier to see. But it will get fainter each day. Frittelli said it’s transforming to see a comet.

“The comet just hangs. It hangs in the night sky. It’s just like floating there. It doesn’t move. It’s beautiful. I’ve seen pictures of it taken in other parts of the world already, and it’s beautiful,” Frittelli added.

And if you don’t see this rare astronomical event, you’re out of luck.

“This one comes about every once every 80,000 years. Might seem like a lot to you, but the Neanderthals were walking the Earth at the time so they might have seen it,” Frittelli said.

Turnshek said the ancient comet may never come back.

“It may just get ejected from the solar system,” she said.

“People in the Southern Hemisphere got a chance to see it, but now is our chance to get to see it after sunset. So many things in the sky are exciting. But there haven’t been that many great comets in recent history,” Turnshek added.

Jessica Guay

Jessica Guay joined KDKA as a reporter in February 2021. Before joining KDKA, Jessica was a morning anchor and reporter at WJAC in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She was also an anchor and reporter at WCHS in Charleston, West Virginia, and at WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio.

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Pittsburg, PA

My Biggest Concern With Pittsburgh’s New Special Teams Coordinator

Published

8 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

My Biggest Concern With Pittsburgh’s New Special Teams Coordinator

Pittsburgh has a punting problem. For years, decades really, the unit hasn’t been sufficient. New Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman’s goal is to come in and fix that while improving or maintaining the other special teams units. History says he may fix other aspects, but not punting.

Below is a chart of the average gross punting yards (how far a punt travels before the return) and NFL rank during all four of Crossman’s stints in the head role: Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Included in the chart is Pittsburgh’s ranking over the Mike Tomlin era, 2007-2025.

The numbers below with analysis to follow:

Stint	Gross Punt Avg	Rank
Carolina (05-09)	44.2 yards	7th
Detroit (10-12)	43.3 yards	26th
Buffalo (13-18)	43.7 yards	29th
Miami (19-24)	45.3 yards	26th
Pittsburgh (07-25)	43.6 yards	32nd

Crossman’s numbers in Carolina were good. The rest were not. He had bottom-tier finishes in Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Perhaps Buffalo can be excused, given its cold-weather climate, naturally unfriendly to punters. Still, Detroit plays indoors (even with road games in Green Bay and Chicago, that’s just a fraction of the season), and Miami is a warm-weather climate. No matter the venue over the past 15 years, the results haven’t been there.

Pittsburgh’s low finish isn’t shocking. Like Buffalo, punting at Acrisure (and Cleveland, Baltimore, and Cincinnati) makes life tough. The city will always have a disadvantage. Still, there’s no reason to accept finishing dead last in the league over nearly 20 years. Pittsburgh’s punting has always been subpar. It’s why the team’s record holder is from the 60s and not the modern day, like nearly every other NFL team. Washington is the only other team in this situation, thanks to Sammy Baugh’s league record that stood for generations.

How much can Crossman be blamed? He’s not the one on the field. But he evaluates and coaches the position. The results reflect him, especially over such a long span of time, and not a cherry-picked, single-season window. There is a consistently disappointing trend. And it’s gotten him fired in Buffalo and Miami.

Cameron Johnston is currently Pittsburgh’s only punter. Another will surely join the team. Whoever wins the job has their work cut out for them. Crossman must turn around his history – and Pittsburgh’s.

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Pirates Place Former Gold Glover on Injured List

Published

20 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Pirates Place Former Gold Glover on Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed an infielder on the injured list ahead of their series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park.

The club announced that Jared Triolo is headed to the 10-day IL with a right knee patellar tendon injury. As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.

ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today placed infielder Jared Triolo on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 4) with a right knee patellar tendon injury.
Outfielder Billy Cook has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 5, 2026
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As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.

Triolo’s Recent Numbers in Pittsburgh

A second-round pick out of the University of Houston in the 2019 MLB Draft, Triolo made his big league debut in 2023 and has remained a staple of Pittsburgh’s infield ever since.

The 28-year-old has never put up gaudy numbers at the plate outside of his rookie year (.785 OPS in 209 plate appearances), but his defensive prowess and versatility has provided adequate value for the team.

Sep 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jared Triolo (19) reacts after a play in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Triolo won the National League Gold Glove for utilitymen in 2024 after posting three Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant, and he logged six OAA in 2025.

He had played in six games for the Pirates this season until suffering his injury. Over that stretch, Triolo slashed .217/.308/.261 with -2 OAA.

Pirates’ Current Infield Depth

Triolo started six of Pittsburgh’s first seven games this year, spending five of those contests at shortstop and one at third base.

While he hasn’t produced in any facet of the game so far in 2026, Triolo’s absence is at least notable due to the fact that the Pirates might have to dig deeper down into their depth chart for reinforcements.

Griffin’s presence, of course, does minimize that affect, as the top prospect in baseball has become Pittsburgh’s everyday shortstop.

With Triolo out of the picture for the time being, Nick Gonzales is in line to continue receiving a lion’s share of the reps at the hot corner, though Nick Yorke could push for playing time there as well.

Elsewhere around the infield, Brandon Lowe will remain the starter at second base amidst his hot start to the season, while Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz are the two primary options at first base.

Cook also has prior experience at first, second and third base, though he’s more of an outfielder these days.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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