So wait - this is a different comet to the one I read about a few months ago, meant to be at its brightest this March. You wait ages and then two come along at once… C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) - Wikipedia
Way to stomp on my childlike wonder,** Musicat**.
Love that book…
Okay, I’m not familiar with this one. Can you tell me the book?
+1
Let me Wiki that for you.
Me too.
I Googled that sentence, and all I got was this lousy thread. 
Lucifer’s Hammer, Larry Niven.
If it appeared at the same time as a firearm of US Revolutionary vintage, would that be a Musket and Omen?
Squee! My fingers are crossed for this one. Halley, back in my childhood, was a bust for me as I recall. This, if it is in the moon-range of brightness, should be visible even here in Manhattan–we can still see the moon here. 
It might be visible in Manhatten, but trust me, even if it is, get out of town one night to go look at it. It will be like listening to a symphony on an MP3 player vs actually going to the symphony.
I think Halley’s Comet was a bust for me, too, and I did live in the sticks back then. However, Hale Bopp was pretty cool. I lived in the city (of St. Paul) by then and could see it very well with the naked eye.
Yup, Hale Bop ruled. Was that the one where all the nut cases killed themselves so they could get on the mother headed to it?
It could be a “great comet.”
The last one, in 1680 was visible during the day!
Here’s hoping!
BTW, I posted about this in October:
I think so. Heaven’s Gate, I believe they were called.
I remember that name. Damn, too late to look for a big cult to all off themselves over this comet, and put them on a 2013 Death Pool list.
Hyakutake was pretty bright around then too. The two have kind of blurred in my mind.
Hya blew Hale away. But you had to be in a DARK site. And it was only really good for a few days. At its best as seen from a dark site when Hya was directly overhead the tail nearly reached the horizon. Hale Bopp wasn’t even close.
Again, I cannot over emphasize the importance of finding the darkest place you can find to watch this.
How about my closet?
–Cliffy
I find two good blankets to be sufficient. Not one, mind you, because the light leaks through.