Comet Alert!

Tuckerfan · December 8, 2004, 12:31am

A comet discovered earlier this year has now moved close enough to be visible without binoculars or telescopes by experienced observers under dark skies. It is expected to put on a modest show this month and into January.

Comet Machholz will be at its closest to Earth Jan. 5-6, 2005, when it will be 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) away.

People with dark rural skies and a good map should be able to find it on Moon-free nights now into January.

Backyard astronomers have been watching Machholz for months through telescopes. It was spotted by naked-eye observers for the first time about three weeks ago from the Southern Hemisphere, said Donald Machholz, who discovered the frozen chunk of rock and ice in August.

“I saw it last night for the first time with the naked eye,” Machholz told SPACE.com Friday.

Sweet!

Kythereia · December 8, 2004, 4:18am

Cool!

AncientHumanoid · December 8, 2004, 5:28am

The Master approaches!

Topic		Replies	Views
Anyone seen the latest comet? Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share	1	668	January 14, 2005
Possible good comet coming! Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share	57	686	October 19, 2024
So There's a Comet Headed This Way? Factual Questions	43	21707	December 12, 2013
The comets of spring/summer In My Humble Opinion	2	693	April 9, 2004
Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, where to look for it? Factual Questions	7	1022	April 12, 2006

Comet Alert!

Related topics