The　main　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　study　the　optimal　distributed　control　of　the　three　dimensional　non-autonomous　primitive　equations　of　large-scale　ocean　and　atmosphere　dynamics.　We　apply　the　well-posedness　and　regularity　results　of　solutions　for　this　system　as　well　as　some　abstract　results　from　the　nonlinear　functional　analysis　to　establish　the　existence　of　optimal　controls　as　well　as　the　first-order　necessary　optimality　condition　for　an　associated　optimal　control　problem　in　which　a　distributed　control　is　applied　to　the　temperature.