Where to spot 'comet of the century' from Scotland

Stonehaven War Memorial and Comet A3 shining brightly to the right of it.Jamie Vince

Jamie Vince took this picture from the Stonehaven War Memorial just after sunset on Monday. Jamie said: "The comet was visible by eye for about an hour before it fell into the horizon."

Parts of Scotland could be among the best places in the UK to try and spot a comet before it disappears for another 80,000 years.

Comet A3 - full name Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - has been called the "comet of the century" because of how bright and visible it can be.

It has been spotted in recent nights, and was at its brightest for UK sky-gazers on Monday.

Forecasters said north-east Scotland and East Anglia would be the only areas where there would be occasional breaks in the cloud for potential sightings on Tuesday.

Two people looking at the comet. They are standing in a field and there are clouds and stars in the sky.Mercuryblue/BBC Weather Watchers

Two people comet-spotting on Monday near Banchory

Comet A3 above lights in a rural landscape called Howe of the Mearns.Chris Pell

Chris Pell spent a chilly evening with a few other star-gazers at the top of Garvock Hill looking out over the Howe of the Mearns to Cairn o' Mount. Chris said: "The clouds held off and the skies did not disappoint."

The comet is expected to be nearly as bright as Monday night before the brightness decreases further over the coming week.

The best time to see the comet is around sunset which will be between 18:00 to 18:30 BST across the UK, and to look west and close to the horizon.

Sunset times can be found on the BBC Weather website and app.

BBC Weather Watchers and BBC Scotland News website readers were among those who spotted the comet on Monday.

A map show how cloudy it has been forecast to be on Tuesday night.
Comet A3 pictured over hills and a settlement with streetlights.CMuzz/BBC Weather Watchers

The comet was clearly visible from St Boswells in the Scottish Borders

Comet A3 appearing above hills and fields and framed by trees.Tomahawk/BBC Weather Watchers

A photograph taken from Crieff

The comet in a dark blue evening sky. There are some stars visible and a line of trees below.Trish/BBC Weather Watchers

Clear skies above Aberdeen offered good views of A3

Comet A3 appears above clouds. There is the golden glow of sunset.Dr Carbon/BBC Weather Watchers

The comet was a spectacular addition to sunset at East Kilbride

Comet A3 above two wind turbines and trees.Skyborg/BBC Weather Watchers

A picture taken from Anstruther in Fife

Comet A3 above roof tops and trees in Musselburgh, East Lothian.Bill/BBC Weather Watchers

A view of the comet from Musselburgh, East Lothian

The comet above clouds and city lights. Part of an aircraft's red wing is also visible.Rosa Stark

Rose Stark, who is 12 and from Edinburgh, managed to get a picture of the comet close to Barcelona while on flight from Newcastle to Ibiza.

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