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New Comet for the New Year

Posted by michael on from the up-up-and-away dept.

spac3manspiff writes "The news has several stories about a fairly new comet named Comet Machholz discovered by Don Machholz. The comet will be able to be seen in the sky on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2 or Jan. 5 through 8. Along with the comet's appearance: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be able to be seen with a naked eye this month. However, you will need binoculars to see the comet."

6 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not even the submitters seem to RTFA anymore. The article clearly states This comet currently is glowing at around magnitude 3.5 and is visible to the naked eye in dark, non-light polluted skies. I.e. the "you need a binoc to see it" it utter BS.

  2. Aw man, not again. by Clueless+Moron · · Score: 5, Funny
    I hate these "naked eye" events. I love astronomy, but I'm frankly embarrassed about having to stand out in my yard buck naked just to look at a comet or meteor shower. My neighbours all think I'm a freak.

    Could somebody please explain to me why I have to be naked to view these things? It's especially nasty now in January.

  3. Re:Where will it be? by jwdb · · Score: 5, Informative

    Personally, when I'm hunting for this comet, I always start at Orion, it being one of the easiest constellations to recognize (just look for a straight line of 3 bright stars).
    - Above and to your right of Orion (when he's standing straight up) is Taurus, of which bright orange Aldebaran is most visible.
    - Keep following that line a few more degrees (I'd say about 3 fingers, your arm stretched out) and you'lle see a fuzzy 7-star cluster - that's the Peliades. Ninth of this month, the comet should be right next to it.

    Here's a handy map:
    http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html

    Jw

  4. Re:Map by jwdb · · Score: 5, Informative

    If I may, I'd suggest these maps - a bit more detail:

    http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html

    Jw

  5. Re:Where will it be? by TheLetterPsy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yeah, it's also known as New York City.

    When an upstater says 'upstate', they mean pretty much all of New York State, except New York City. Many people from outside of the 'upstate' area (as I refer to it), seem to think that upstate only means up in the Northeast corner. This includes people from the City.

  6. It will be here.. by EqualSlash · · Score: 5, Informative

    Thanks to www.heavens-above.com
    Checkout this handy guide: Comet Machhholz(C/2004 Q2)
    It helps if you first register your observing location.