HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Over the weekend, Hawaii stargazers witnessed what some are calling the ‘comet of the century.’ The comet is now making its closest approach on a return voyage to Earth. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is expected to come within 44 million miles of Earth, NASA said.

News Channel 11 viewer Don Carrier photographed a once-in-80,000-years comet currently passing over Earth in Mendota, Virginia Saturday night. According to a blog post by NASA, the comet is named ATLAS and was first discovered in 2023 as its orbit approached the inner solar system.