An ancient comet that only returns to the inner solar system once every 80,000 years, illuminated the night sky in the Philippines.

Footage shows the long-period comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS streaking through dark horizons in Pangasinan province on October 13 as it passed over Earth.

It appeared to have a glowing tail as it traversed the evening sky as seen by residents.

Engineer Kurt Daniel Joves said: 'I went to the beach to set up my device and waited for the comet. I was so happy when I finally spotted it. It was the third comet I have seen in my life and the effort was all worth it.'

The comet was named after Tsuchinshan Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) last year. It is classified as a long-period comet, meaning its orbit around the Sun takes thousands of years.