We are overdue for a “great” comet. McNaught / Lovejoy / Hale-Bopp and Ikeya–Seki were all decades ago.
A few days ago, a new “Sungrazer" (Kreutz)
comet was discovered. It’s still quite far out, but if it follows the path of other similar comets. if could become the comet of the century (or last few centuries). It’s possible if could be visible during the day. I’m not holding my breath, but I might keep my fingers crossed.
Closest approach to the Sun will be April 4th, 2026, and it will pass closer to the surface of the Sun than the Earth is to the Moon.
Yeah, with the way comets work, they don’t really recover from duds. 1986 was evidence that Halley is now completely spent, and will never again be impressive.
That was my thought, too. I was on the South Island of New Zealand, weather was consistently clear, and comet McNaught was beyond spectacular - a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. That photo in your link is just how it looked to the naked eye.
So I don’t deserve another Great comet - but maybe it will happen anyway.
But the debris field still produces wonderful meteor shows.
My dottor and I were 40 km offshore on top of a dive boat staying overnight in swags.
No idea that were being served up a spectacular meteor shower.
Wasn’t planned …just coincidence but wow what a treat.
No ambient light or moon and the Magellenic Clouds were very evident
The photo doesn’t even do it justice. The diaphenous tail spread far over the dark S Atlantic just above the horizon…truly astonishing and I had no idea it was coming. Friend just waltzed in and said “seen the comet” …whaaaat!!!
Even those werent great compared to the glory that was early Halleys comet- brighter than Venus, could be seen in the daytime. Even Hale-Bopp was more like a fuzzy star with a small tail.
