Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has been making quite a name for itself these past few weeks, providing a dazzling spectacle for early morning risers wishing to catch a glimpse of the "dirty snowball" as it streaks through the predawn sky.
On Sept. 27, the comet will reach its perihelion — the closest distance to the sun. At 1:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT) the comet will be about 36.4 million miles (58.6 million kilometers) away from the sun. To put that distance into perspective, it's almost the same as Mercury's average distance from the sun, which stands at about 36 million miles (58 million kilometers). And, on Mercury, daytime temperatures can reach highs of 800°F (430°C).
