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Comet Pan-STARRS Near the Moon Tonight: How to See It
by Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
Date: 12 March 2013 Time: 07:31 AM E
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The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.
CREDIT: StarDate Magazine
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Many stargazers attempting to view the Comet Pan-STARRS on recent nights have been thwarted by the comet's low position in the western sky. But tonight (March 12), the thin crescent moon will lend a hand.
Over the past weekend countless observers across in North America and Europe tried — and for the most part failed — to see Comet Pan-STARRS, in part due to its low altitude above the west-northwest horizon. The bright glare of the evening twilight sky just is also a hurdle, since it can as make the comet harder to see just after sunset.
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[TD]The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.
CREDIT: StarDate Magazine
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Many stargazers attempting to view the Comet Pan-STARRS on recent nights have been thwarted by the comet's low position in the western sky. But tonight (March 12), the thin crescent moon will lend a hand.
Over the past weekend countless observers across in North America and Europe tried — and for the most part failed — to see Comet Pan-STARRS, in part due to its low altitude above the west-northwest horizon. The bright glare of the evening twilight sky just is also a hurdle, since it can as make the comet harder to see just after sunset.
But fret not, comet lovers! Weather permitting, observing conditions will improve by this evening, since Comet Pan-STARR's position above the horizon will be noticeably higher and the moon can be used as a benchmark to point your way.
Clear western view essential
The best suggestion I can make is for your Tuesday night comet watch is to first find an observing site with the least amount of any obstructions in the direction of the western part of the sky. [How to see the comet]
If you end up successfully catching a glimpse of them, the moon and the comet will not be any higher than 10 degrees above the horizon. That is about the size of your clenched held out at arm's length.
If you have a house or some trees in your line of sight, then you're going to have to find some other viewing site
But fret not, comet lovers! Weather permitting, observing conditions will improve by this evening, since Comet Pan-STARR's position above the horizon will be noticeably higher and the moon can be used as a benchmark to point your way.
Step 1: Find the moon
In order to boost your chances of seeing Comet Pan-STARRS, be sure to arrive at your viewing site in time to see the sunset. Take note of where on the horizon the sun sets.
Now wait about 30 minutes as the sky slowly begins to darken. Truthfully, it will still be rather bright looking toward the west a half hour after the sunset … this was one of the main problems people have had in recent days in trying to see the comet.
However, first things first: Let's locate the moon. Take your clenched fist and measure off 10 degrees up from that point on the horizon where the sun disappeared about a half hour before. Now look a bit to the right from the top of your fist. That's where the crescent moon will be.
Seeing the moon will be a bit of a challenge in itself because it will be very narrow, appearing only about 28 hours after passing its new phase. Because of this, the lunar disk will be only 1-percent illuminated. It will be oriented with its bright sliver down, resembling a cup or a thin smile on the sky.
If you can't see the moon with your unaided eye, then use binoculars. Once you pick it up with binoculars you should be able to find it without optical aid.
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Astrophotographer Adam Block of the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter took this photo of Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) over Tucson, AZ, on March 10, 2013.
CREDIT: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
Finding Comet Pan-STARRS
With the moon found in the evening sky, it is time to use it as a guide to spot Comet Pan-STARRS.
The comet will be located about 5 degrees to the left of the moon. Once again, you might not initially see it with your eyes, so use binoculars if you need to. Five degrees measures roughly "half a fist" in length.
You'll know Comet Pan-STARRS when you see it. It will appear as a bright, star-like "head" with a short, stubby tail extending from the head upwards and slightly to the left from the bright end. Like the moon, once you find it with binoculars, you should, with time, be able to make it out against the bright twilight sky.
Comet Pan-STARRS and the moon should be visible for about a half hour before they disappear into the murky haze always located near the horizon.
Comet Pan-STARRS Near the Moon Tonight: How to See It | Space.com
by Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
Date: 12 March 2013 Time: 07:31 AM E
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The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.CREDIT: StarDate Magazine
View full size image[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Many stargazers attempting to view the Comet Pan-STARRS on recent nights have been thwarted by the comet's low position in the western sky. But tonight (March 12), the thin crescent moon will lend a hand.
Over the past weekend countless observers across in North America and Europe tried — and for the most part failed — to see Comet Pan-STARRS, in part due to its low altitude above the west-northwest horizon. The bright glare of the evening twilight sky just is also a hurdle, since it can as make the comet harder to see just after sunset.
[TABLE="width: 1"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Link Removed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.CREDIT: StarDate Magazine
View full size image[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Many stargazers attempting to view the Comet Pan-STARRS on recent nights have been thwarted by the comet's low position in the western sky. But tonight (March 12), the thin crescent moon will lend a hand.
Over the past weekend countless observers across in North America and Europe tried — and for the most part failed — to see Comet Pan-STARRS, in part due to its low altitude above the west-northwest horizon. The bright glare of the evening twilight sky just is also a hurdle, since it can as make the comet harder to see just after sunset.
But fret not, comet lovers! Weather permitting, observing conditions will improve by this evening, since Comet Pan-STARR's position above the horizon will be noticeably higher and the moon can be used as a benchmark to point your way.
Clear western view essential
The best suggestion I can make is for your Tuesday night comet watch is to first find an observing site with the least amount of any obstructions in the direction of the western part of the sky. [How to see the comet]
If you end up successfully catching a glimpse of them, the moon and the comet will not be any higher than 10 degrees above the horizon. That is about the size of your clenched held out at arm's length.
If you have a house or some trees in your line of sight, then you're going to have to find some other viewing site
But fret not, comet lovers! Weather permitting, observing conditions will improve by this evening, since Comet Pan-STARR's position above the horizon will be noticeably higher and the moon can be used as a benchmark to point your way.
Step 1: Find the moon
In order to boost your chances of seeing Comet Pan-STARRS, be sure to arrive at your viewing site in time to see the sunset. Take note of where on the horizon the sun sets.
Now wait about 30 minutes as the sky slowly begins to darken. Truthfully, it will still be rather bright looking toward the west a half hour after the sunset … this was one of the main problems people have had in recent days in trying to see the comet.
However, first things first: Let's locate the moon. Take your clenched fist and measure off 10 degrees up from that point on the horizon where the sun disappeared about a half hour before. Now look a bit to the right from the top of your fist. That's where the crescent moon will be.
Seeing the moon will be a bit of a challenge in itself because it will be very narrow, appearing only about 28 hours after passing its new phase. Because of this, the lunar disk will be only 1-percent illuminated. It will be oriented with its bright sliver down, resembling a cup or a thin smile on the sky.
If you can't see the moon with your unaided eye, then use binoculars. Once you pick it up with binoculars you should be able to find it without optical aid.
Link Removed
Astrophotographer Adam Block of the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter took this photo of Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) over Tucson, AZ, on March 10, 2013. CREDIT: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
Finding Comet Pan-STARRS
With the moon found in the evening sky, it is time to use it as a guide to spot Comet Pan-STARRS.
The comet will be located about 5 degrees to the left of the moon. Once again, you might not initially see it with your eyes, so use binoculars if you need to. Five degrees measures roughly "half a fist" in length.
You'll know Comet Pan-STARRS when you see it. It will appear as a bright, star-like "head" with a short, stubby tail extending from the head upwards and slightly to the left from the bright end. Like the moon, once you find it with binoculars, you should, with time, be able to make it out against the bright twilight sky.
Comet Pan-STARRS and the moon should be visible for about a half hour before they disappear into the murky haze always located near the horizon.
Comet Pan-STARRS Near the Moon Tonight: How to See It | Space.com
