Comets are unpredictable celestial visitors, and there is great uncertainty surrounding their magnitude (brightness). This year is shaping up to be a great year for comets to visit us, and there are some noteworthy candidates that astronomers are keeping an eye on.

In addition to being quite interesting to observe, comets provide valuable information about the mysteries of the formation and evolution of our solar system. They are also excellent subjects for astrophotography.

However, comets are invisible guests. They are shrouded in uncertainty, and many things can affect their brightness.

The brightness of a comet is measured by magnitude – the smaller the magnitude, the brighter the object. The full Moon has a magnitude of -12.6, and the Sun -26.74.

Here are the comets to look out for in 2024:

Comet 62P/Zuchingshan (Zuchingshan 1)

Perihelion: December 25, 2023

Closest approach to Earth: January 29, 2024

Magnitude on approach: 9.5

Visibility: possible with medium-sized binoculars

Orbital period: 6.4 years

Towards the end of January, Zuchinshan 1 will be visible in medium binoculars as it approaches Earth.

144P/Kushida

Perihelion: January 25, 2024

Best to see: February

Magnitude at perihelion: 8.5

Visibility: difficult, but possible with medium-sized binoculars.

Orbital period: 7.6 years

Comet 144P/Kushida was closest to Earth on December 12, 2023, when it reached 15th magnitude. As the comet approaches perihelion, it will brighten to 8.5 magnitude, and although visibility predictions vary, it will be visible in medium-sized binoculars.

C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)

Perihelion: February 14, 2024

Magnitude at perihelion: 7.1

Closest to Earth: March 14

Magnitude: 7.1

Visibility: Probably visible after perihelion for those in the northern hemisphere using a telescope. Potentially visible in medium sized binoculars.

When C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS) reaches perihelion on February 14, it will be visible in a telescope for a short time, but it will be at a relatively low altitude of 23 degrees above the southeastern horizon. As the Moon advances, it will begin to become visible for longer and will climb higher, reaching 36 degrees by March 4.

Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks (Comet Pons-Brooks) ⭐️

Perihelion: April 21, 2024

Magnitude at perihelion: 4.2

Best seen: at the end of March, after sunset

Closest to Earth: June 2, 2024

Magnitude: 6.3

Orbital period: 71 years

Visibility: Potential naked-eye visibility before perihelion for those in the Northern Hemisphere and after perihelion for those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Comet Ponce-Brooks may be one of the brightest comets of the year. At magnitude 4.2, it’s barely visible to the naked eye, but you’ll be able to see it with small binoculars in June, when it’s closest to Earth.

13P/Olbers

Perihelion: June 30, 2024

Magnitude at perihelion: 7.5

Closest approach to Earth: July 20, 2024

Magnitude at closest approach: 7.6

Orbital period: 69 years

Visibility: Possibly visible with small binoculars near perihelion in June and July.

13P/Olbers is Halley’s comet, last seen in 1956 when it reached apparent magnitude 6.5 and a tail one degree long.

C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS (Comet C/2023 A3 / Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) uD83CuDF1F

Perihelion: September 27

Magnitude at perihelion: 0.2

Closest distance to Earth: October 12, 2024

Magnitude: -0.9

Visibility: Weather permitting, Comet C/2023 A3 will be visible to the naked eye. It will be best seen in the southern hemisphere before perihelion and in the northern hemisphere after perihelion.