Hot news just in today from the NASA website:
A new comet is expected to become visible to the unaided eye later this month. Comet McNaught is already showing an impressive tail and is currently visible through binoculars.
The comet should be visible to the naked eye in late June, before sunrise, and early July, after sunset.
Discovered by Robert McNaught last year, the sun-orbiting iceberg will pass the Earth next week and will continue to melt and shed debris as it closes in on the Sun until early July. After reaching about half of the Earth-Sun distance from the Sun, the comet should fade rapidly as it then heads out of the inner Solar System.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thanks for that Sid. Will be well worth seeing if it comes up to expectation. Comet Hale Bop in 1996 was fantastic. Very unpredictable though comets.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Excellent, thanks Sid.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
?????????????? Confused.com
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
We all struggle with our Brian Colin
Brian, that's McN not McD mate. Nice try, but no fries unless it drops to earth unexpectedly.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
This was Hale Bop in 1997. A spectacular sight, and hopefully the approaching comet will be impressive as well.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Just as long as it stays that far away Colin, I'll be happy.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Maybe a bit closer this time Sid, just to open the eyes of the ignorant.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Just to advise, comet McNaught is now visible in our skies. It can be seen in the dawn sky by using binoculars. The comet is with us until very early July.
