New Year comet on view
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:05 am
Comet 45P, full name Comet 45P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková, has been slowly moving across the night sky over the past few weeks, and on New Year’s Eve (tonight) it should have been easy to spot in binoculars or a small telescope, as it meets up just east of the crescent moon. Note it was not visible to unaided eye as it is currently too dim. The comet remained visible shortly after sunset and above the western horizon for a few hours before setting along with the moon. Images taken so far on this comet show it to have a distintive blueish green color with a fan-shaped tail; looks great!
If you missed out on seeing Comet 45P on New Year’s Eve, weather aside, what else could you be doing
) there will be another window of opportunity to view it early in 2017. Shortly after the start of the new year, the comet will disappear from the night sky as seen from Earth as it passes behind the Sun but due to its orbit, it will be visible once again in February as it moves away from the sun, appearing in the eastern sky in the hours before dawn. The comet is expected to appear even brighter in February than it is now, however, it will still be too dim to see without the help of a telescope or a pair of binoculars.
If you missed out on seeing Comet 45P on New Year’s Eve, weather aside, what else could you be doing
) there will be another window of opportunity to view it early in 2017. Shortly after the start of the new year, the comet will disappear from the night sky as seen from Earth as it passes behind the Sun but due to its orbit, it will be visible once again in February as it moves away from the sun, appearing in the eastern sky in the hours before dawn. The comet is expected to appear even brighter in February than it is now, however, it will still be too dim to see without the help of a telescope or a pair of binoculars.