DETERMINED Black Country photographers have been celebrating after capturing ‘the comet of the century’ as it put in another appearance in the skies over Kinver last night (Thursday October 17).

Joanna Noble from Kingswinford and Rik Freeman from Dudley separately had the idea to head for the Sheepwalks – a remote hillside near Kinver – for the best chance of seeing C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas as the clouds ebbed away, leaving virtually clear skies.

The hunch paid off and after waiting patiently in different spots on the darkened hillside both managed to capture some beautiful shots of the comet which would have last been visible when the Neanderthals walked the planet.

Comet A3 caught on camera by Kingswinford based photographer Joanna Noble over the Sheepwalks near KinverComet A3 caught on camera by Kingswinford based photographer Joanna Noble over the Sheepwalks near Kinver (Image: Bev Holder) The comet, which comes from the Oort Cloud surrounding our solar system, is expected to be visible in the west from across the UK until October 30.

With more gloomy weather forecast in the Midlands for the week ahead, however, last night was considered one of best opportunities for catching a glimpse of the rare comet which visits the inner solar system every 80,000 years.

Estimated to be within 44 million miles of Earth, it has been described as the comet of the century’ by news media but the Royal Astronomical Society’s Dr Robert Massey has described it simply as “a nice comet”.

Comet A3 caught on camera by Dudley photographer Rik Freeman over the Sheepwalks near KinverComet A3 caught on camera by Dudley photographer Rik Freeman over the Sheepwalks near Kinver (Image: Rik Freeman) Dudley lensman Rik Freeman, who last week snapped some incredible images of the northern lights over Shropshire, told of his delight at managing to capture the rare comet on camera last night.

He said: “I was over the moon. I had been waiting nearly a week to get even one shot as the weather has been atrocious, so seeing it last night was a massive relief.”

Joanna, who had already caught the comet on camera in Kinver on Saturday night (October 12), went out for another chance to see the spectacle in the sky “one last time before she wanders off for another 80,000 years”.

She too achieved her wish, capturing another stunning artistic shot of the comet.

Taking to X (Twitter) this morning, she shared her images of the comet in the sky and last night’s supermoon and said: “Not a bad night under the stars to be fair!! Taken just outside of Kinver last night.”

For the best chance of seeing the comet, skywatchers are advised to look to the west just after sunset on a clear night.