Will it be possible to see the comet still? I have just read about it but dont know which way I need to look from the midwest to see it. As I understand if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it will be getting brighter for the next few days.
2007-01-14 02:40:30 · 5 answers · asked by cnmsales 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Specificly I am needing to know what direction I need to be looking. Do I need to be looking to the southern sky, or to the northern sky?
2007-01-14 03:10:02 · update #1
Yes -- it is so bright you can see it during the day!
http://www.spaceweather.com/
You can see some pictures of the comet from space here:
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/hotshots/
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/c3/512/
2007-01-14 02:54:20 · answer #1 · answered by Robert Jacobson 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly comet McNaught will only be visible in the Southern Hemisphere from now until it departs this region of space forever (its orbit is hyperbolic apparently) Better get to Australia or South America in the next couple of days if you want to see it! Once it emerges from behind the sun on Monday it will be visible with the naked eye for a few more nights and then its gone for good.
http://www.heavens-above.com/comet.asp?cid=C%2F2006+P1&Session=kebgcbnljmhodjhojfhgdmbn
2007-01-14 12:21:14 · answer #2 · answered by eggman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The *best* time to see it is immediately after your local sunset -- the comet is quite close to the sun right now, just slightly to the east of it. As soon as the sun has dipped below your horizon in the west, look right above the spot the sun disappeared below your horizon, and just a little to the south. It's only about 7 degrees from the sun (about the size of your fist held at arm's length), but it's quite bright. If you don't have clouds or air pollution murking up your western horizon, it's easy to see with a pair of binoculars, and even with just your eyes.
If you're VERY CAREFUL, you can see it in the daytime -- it's that bright. Position yourself so the sun is blocked by your house, a thick tree trunk, or something similar. Stand in the shadow...be VERY CAREFUL not to look at the sun with binoculars or any other optical aid! Use binoculars, and look just to the left (east) of the sun and a little up (north) -- it's easy to find. The link below is a picture I took of it at noon on Thursday, middle of the day.
2007-01-14 11:53:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand it's already too late. Right after sunset in the west, below and to the right of Venus. Within 30 minutes it's gone, from what I know.
2007-01-14 11:57:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
at night outside LOL
2007-01-14 10:49:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋