Comet for March Viewing - Pan Starrs

[Channel Hopper]

It's closest approach to Earth is tomorrow, before travelling onwards to the sun


The comet should begin to finally become visible to Northern Hemisphere skywatchers on Thursday (March 7), weather permitting, when it will rise very low near the west-southwest horizon about a half hour after sunset.

Next Tuesday (March 12), the comet will stand almost directly above the western horizon, less than 5 degrees to the left of a very narrow crescent moon. The comet will continue to slowly get higher and shift slowly toward the west-northwest part of the sky during the middle and later part of March, also becoming gradually dimmer as it pulls away from both the sun and the Earth.

Any tail that may be present should appear to be pointed straight up and tipped to the left through mid-March, then for the remainder of the month be tipped a bit more to the right.




http://www.space.com/20056-comet-panstarrs-march-night-sky.html

 

[Channel Hopper]

Dates and approximate location. The magnitude is really hit and miss though

(edited for better UK angles)

 

[Channel Hopper]

From Buenos Aires

 

[Analoguesat]

Oooh nice

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Great shot.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Australia

 

[Analoguesat]

First evening in northern skies - and its misty & 100% cloud here

In fact the weather looks pretty grim until early next week.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Indian Ocean

 

[Channel Hopper]

Getting brighter - Turkey a couple of hours ago

 

[Analoguesat]

Cor blimey that Turkey photo looks promising.

However the weather forecast for the next week up here doesnt

 

[Channel Hopper]

From Brazil

 

[Analoguesat]

Paranal Observatory Chile - two comets visible!

http://sguisard.astrosurf.com/Pagim/Paranal-MW-Lemmon-PANSTARRS.html

 

[Channel Hopper]

Now at its closest to the sun, and observed by the STEREO craft

http://mysolaralerts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/comet-panstarr-is-showing-up-on-nasa.html

 

[Channel Hopper]

Lots of icy objects visible from here tonight, a pity none of them are the comet

 

[Piltdownpaul]

On the 12th it should be in the region of the moon but you'll need a good vantage point as its low in the sky.

 

[Channel Hopper]

From Sweden

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Azimuth 260 on the 9th, 270 on the 13th, 280 on the 18th and at 310 degrees azimuth on the 28th

 

[Analoguesat]

I spent a freezing half hour outside scanning the skies through the cloud breaks.

Nothing apart from getting fingers so cold they were painful. Reckon its still a bit low here. And the roads are far too icy to go to my favoured vantage point

 

[Channel Hopper]

Best time for viewing may be tomorrow evening as the crescent moon (if visible) will provide the best guide to the comet, just to the left about 40 minutes after sunset (if visible)

 

[Channel Hopper]

And, the skies are currently clear round here, so I'll dust off the telescope in an hour and put her outside. :-rub