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| My impression of what Comet Panstarrs might look like on the 13th of March 2013 if you were on a boat anchored off Sizewell Suffolk |
I'm hoping the weather is going to improve before the week commencing the 11th of March.
Comet Panstarrs, which has been visible at dusk and dawn in the Southern Hemisphere, should become visible in the UK after sunset on the 12th or 13th of March.
Today Toot and I went for a walk to find a good place to view and hopefully photograph the comet. If you are interested in seeing this celestial visitor from the Oort Cloud you need to find a location with a good western aspect and a horizon unobstructed by trees or buildings.
The comet should be visible to the naked eye but binoculars, if you have them to hand, could provide the best view.
The comet should be visible to the naked eye but binoculars, if you have them to hand, could provide the best view.
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| NASA Guide Sky-map |
Information from Southern Hemisphere observers is all positive with the comet brightening significantly in the last few days. The comet reaches its closest point to the Sun on the 10th of March and may break up and or brighten significantly.
Lets all hope for clear skies and a good show!
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| Anatomy of a Comet |
Latest image of comets Panstarrs and Lemon taken from the Atacama Desert, South America and Parkes Radio Telescope, Australia.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130305.html
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1303/CPanstarrsParkes_Sarkissian.jpg
For my UK images taken on March 13th 2013:
http://george-artcabinedujardin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/comet-panstarrs-first-light.html
Do you know when it will be most visible from the southern hemisphere? Perticlualy melbourne, Australia.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'm not sure that you will be able to see Comet Pannstars from Melbourne as the Comet is nearing its closest pass of the sun (on the 10th March) and after will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere. You should be able to see Comet Lemmon from Melbourne, definitely with binoculars, sadly comet Lemmon will not be visible from England. Look in the west after sunset (make sure the sun is below the horizon before pointing binoculars any where near it!!! You can seriously damage your eyes and lose your sight). Follow the link for where and when to look, hope helpful:
ReplyDeletehttp://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/mar_f6.pdf
Any advice on how to view from south west France?
ReplyDeleteHi Kate. You need four things on the twelfth of March:
Delete1) Good weather and clear skies.
2) An unobstructed western horizon - a view west across the sea would be brilliant or otherwise an elevated viewing position with a westerly aspect to the horizon. If the weather is good, a practice run on the eleventh of March might be worthwhile and might allow an early glimpse of the comet.
3) Get to your viewing location early and watch the sun set, the comet will not be far away from the sun. As twilight falls you should see the comet not far from the new crescent moon.
4) The comet to have survived its encounter with and circumnavigation of the sun .
Hope helpful