Look Up! Seven Comets Visible in Indiana and Kentucky in 2024

Folks in Indiana and Kentucky will be treated with seven different opportunities in 2024 to see some pretty remarkable views in the night sky.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been intrigued by outer space. Everything from the planets, asteroids, meteor showers, and comets has always fascinated me. Recently, we had a meteor shower where I was able to get my bonus son the chance to see a "shooting star" for the first time in his life. He thought it was so cool that he is now interested in all things space. This is why I am excited to share this article with him because we here in Indiana and Kentucky will be treated to seven different opportunities in 2024 to catch a glimpse of some really cool things that you don't see every night in the sky.

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Look Up in 2024!

Folks here in Indiana and Kentucky will be able to see seven different comets that will be visible in the night sky throughout 2024. Comets aren't really a normal phenomenon that we see a lot of, so when you do, it's something that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Now, for those who aren't as obsessed with outer space as myself, here's what a comet is, according to NASA:

Now that we got that out of the way, when and how can you see the seven different comets over Indiana and Kentucky in 2024? Let's take a look!

Seven Comets Visible in Indiana and Kentucky in 2024

The website, Starwalk has some really cool information about the seven comets that will be visible over both Indiana and Kentucky at some level in 2024. These comets will be scattered throughout the year, so if you miss one, you'll still have more chances to look up and see these comets this year.

Without any further ado, here are all the comets that will be over our heads in 2024:

144P/Kushida

This comet has already made its closest approach to Earth in December of 2023, but the perihelion will be January 25, 2024, and it is visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

62P/Tsuchinshan

The closest approach to Earth for this giant ball of ice and rock will be January 29, 2024, and it will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere.

C/2021 S3 (PanSTARRS)

This is the start of some pretty awesome and special comets that we will see in 2024. For those of us here in Indiana and Kentucky, his comet should be visible with even small binoculars by March 14, 2024, with an expected visible magnitude of over 7. That's pretty big!

12P/Pons-Brooks

This is one of the brightest comets of 2024 that might be visible to even the naked eye beginning in April. It will be visible again in June, but you'll probably need small binoculars to make it out in a dark sky. So, try to be on the lookout in April for the best views.

13P/Olbers

In June and July, this big ice rock will be visible over Indiana and Kentucky. You will want to have a pair of decent binoculars to see it, but even small ones might do if the magnitude is high enough.

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

This is the granddaddy of them all in 2024. Starwalk says that the comet could be the biggest of the decade with the forecast to possibly qualify as a "great comet" in September and October. It should be visible to the naked eye, making it hard to miss among the stars.