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Astronomers predict Pan-STARRS could shine as brilliantly as the stars that make up the Big Dipper constellation – about halfway between the brightest and faintest stars visible from Earth.
Northern hemisphere stargazers eager for a glimpse of the celestial apparition will have to look towards the west at dusk, left of the sickle moon, preferably in a dark place outside of big cities with their electric light pollution.
"They will see a fuzzy disk which we call the coma, which is like a little atmosphere around the nucleus of the comet," said Detlef Koschny, head of the European Space Agency's near-Earth object segment.
"The coma will be smaller than the full moon, but still visibly a disk, not just a point. And then the tail – we hope it will be several diameters of the full moon."
It is a rare year indeed, not only do we have Comet Pan-STARRS, but also Comet Lemon, Comet Catalina, and Comet 168P/Hergenrother visible all at the same time. Comet ISON will top off the year this coming November.
For those who are counting, that will be FIVE visible comets just in 2013, including one that should be brighter than a full moon. It is a good thing I am neither superstitious nor religious, or I might be a little concerned.
Not sure where or if i can see this in New York. Lots of cosmic events recently, From the Siberian meteor to the asteroid flyby.
The comet will rise higher in the night sky as we proceed through March. Look for it just under the crescent of the moon in the western horizon.
There has indeed been a lot of cosmic events this year, and the year is still young. This is a great time to be involved in astronomy. We are able to see more today than ever before, and that has opened up a whole new universe that just 50 years ago we had no idea was there. Just think what we will discover tomorrow.
The comet will rise higher in the night sky as we proceed through March. Look for it just under the crescent of the moon in the western horizon.
There has indeed been a lot of cosmic events this year, and the year is still young. This is a great time to be involved in astronomy. We are able to see more today than ever before, and that has opened up a whole new universe that just 50 years ago we had no idea was there. Just think what we will discover tomorrow.
Thanks, going to look for her in the night sky.
Being in large cities, The light pollution blocks a lot of the stars out. If one were to see the clear night sky uncluttered by light, like at a dark sky park or area away from any city they would never want to go inside again. Truly a wonder!
Yes. Below is a depiction of Comet PAN-STARRS route as seen from 40° north latitude. From Homer's perspective the comet will be slightly lower than depicted below in early March, but rising higher than depicted below by late March.
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another alaskan
