Mesmerizing pictures show once-in-a-lifetime comet dart across South Carolina sky

A comet that won’t fly by Earth for another 80,000 years was captured in mesmerizing images zooming across the South Carolina sky.

The unique comet, nicknamed A3, emerged from the Oort Cloud – a bubble-shaped, mysterious phenomenon that encompasses our solar system.

Stargazers eagerly awaited what they called the “comet of the century,” last seen 8,000 decades ago.

And those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of history were able to view the incredible images.

Now the comet visiting Earth from interstellar space will live on through the compelling images.

The comet was visible shortly after sunset in the western sky above the Lake Murray Dam Hydroelectric Intake Towers near Columbia, South Carolina.

The Oort Cloud is located at a great distance from Earth – even further than Pluto, which is more than 5.24 billion kilometers from our planet.

But the comet is expected to come much closer, coming within 45 million miles of Earth. NASA reported.

People living in the Southern Hemisphere have already been able to see the event, but those who didn’t notice it shouldn’t lose hope just yet.

Yesterday was just the first day of arrival. Scientists say those who look at the western night sky just after sunset may catch a glimpse in the coming weeks, Fox Carolina reported.

Ashley Pagnotta, a professor of physics and astronomy at the College of Charleston, said you can see it with the naked eye as early as yesterday when the sun hits the comet’s tail just right. Post and courier reported.

The comet won’t fly through Earth’s skies for another 80,000 years and was last seen 8,000 decades ago

The comet emerged from the Oort cloud – a bubble-like phenomenon that encompasses our solar system

But of course, binoculars can always help you see the comet in all its glory.

The best viewing moment for A3 is early next week, Sky and telescope reported.

The Oort Cloud sounds like any other cloud – except that if people were to visit, they wouldn’t find a puffy, white, delicate creation.

Pagnotta said it consists of huge rocks and rubble, some of which are even taller than mountains.

It is thought to be the result of leftover fragments from the time our solar system was created.

Comet A3 was captured early Friday morning in San Francisco, California, just at sunrise as it traveled over the Golden Gate Bridge

Stargazers are calling A3 the ‘comet of the century’ and it arrived for the first time on Friday, but could be seen in the coming weeks

Billions of years ago, the cloud acted like a “hockey net” and captured rocks and ice chunks as large as Mount Everest, according to Post and Courier.

Astronomers call Oort’s comets time capsules because they contain materials dating back to the birth of the solar system.

Although the comet will still be 70 million kilometers away from Earth, thanks to advanced technology, it is close enough for astronomers around the world to analyze it and learn what materials it contains.

The comet is named after the place where it was first spotted in 2023, the Tsuchinshan Chinese Observatory and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.

Astronomers’ predictions raise hopes that the comet’s brightness will increase upon its re-emergence in October, making it possible for city dwellers to see it.

The Oort Cloud, from which the comet emerges, is thought to be the result of fragments left behind from the formation of our solar system.

The comet is forecast to start each evening higher in the sky and easier to see, as long as the comet remains bright enough.

The Southern Hemisphere had a clearer view of the comet, but as we approach mid-October, the Northern Hemisphere is expected to be able to see it more clearly.

The A3 was also spotted early Friday morning in San Francisco, California and around 6 a.m. at sunrise Friday morning over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Comets can be classified as ‘long or short period’ depending on the years they take to orbit the sun. Short-period comets take less than 200 years, while the longest known orbit takes more than 250,000 years to complete one orbit around the sun.

And fortunately for us, there is absolutely no chance that the comet will hit Earth as it makes its journey across our planet’s sky.