Pittsburg, PA
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.
One of Pittsburgh’s biggest goals before hosting the NFL Draft was to modernize Market Square. It is just one of the spaces in the downtown area that is being transformed for the massive event.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh regional transportation plan unveiled
With the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh quickly approaching, city officials and Pittsburgh Regional Transit unveiled its regional transportion plan.
Extensive road closures will be in place around Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium from April 22-25 as the 2026 NFL Draft brings three days of excitement and football fans into the city of Pittsburgh.
During NFL Draft events, the city’s Downtown and North Shore areas will convert to a walkable “Draft Campus,” with motorized traffic limited to Pittsburgh Regional Transit vehicles, the city’s light rail system (the “T”) and other official providers.
Therefore, many streets into and around the “Draft Campus” are closed to vehicle traffic starting April 22. Traffic patterns will be adjusted to allow Pirates fans to access PNC Park for baseball games held during the road closures, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com.
In addition to these streets, the Interstate 279 and Interstate 579 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes into the city are closed to vehicle traffic all week; only authorized bus traffic and emergency vehicles will be permitted to use those lanes.
People planning to use the Beaver County Transit Authority bus to reach downtown Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft events can find more information about the authority’s bus service plans on the BCTA website.
Here is the list of road closures in place from April 22-25, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com, which has a complete guide to getting into and around the city during NFL Draft events.
- Art Rooney Avenue
- West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Scotland Avenue
- Casino Drive, from Sproat Way
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way
- Reedsdale Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Chuck Noll Way
- Tony Dorsett Drive
- Sproat Way
- Allegheny Avenue from Ridge Avenue
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way
- Mazeroski Way
- West General Robinson Street
- Lacock Street, from Federal Street
- Federal Street, from Lacock Street
- Merchant Street
- I-279 southbound exit 1B ramp
- I-279 northbound exit 1B ramp
- Route 65 southbound ramp to Fort Duquesne
- Route 65 northbound ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
- T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street and Ridge Avenue
- Sixth Street Bridge, aka the Roberto Clemente Bridge
- Seventh Street Bridge, aka the Andy Warhol Bridge
- Isabella Street
- Sixth Street
- Fort Pitt on ramp, from 10th Street Bypass and Fort Duquesne Boulevard
- Commonwealth Place
- Liberty Avenue extension
- Penn Avenue, from Stanwix Street to 9th Street
- Liberty Avenue/PPG Paints Arena exit off the Fort Pitt Bridge
- Smithfield Street Bridge
Pennsylvania’s 511PA.com online transportation website will feature a special NFL webpage providing real-time traffic information in and around the city during the NFL Draft.
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