McNaught’s Comet Visible
Unfortunately I’m kind of on the wrong side of the planet to catch this event. But you might not be. Residents of Australia and New Zealand have the chance to see the brightest comet in 40 years. McNaught’s Comet, discovered just last August, will appear six times brighter than the Hale-Bopp Comet and 100 times brighter then Halley’s Comet. So where can you see McNaught’s Comet? Check the southwest evening sky toward the horizon after sunset.
Looks like I may stand corrected on the viewing locale. Check here for some great pictures of McNaught’s Comet from all over the place. Even some daylight picts.
January 16th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
In Perth WA we enjoyed a great view of the comet from Cottesloe Beach ( a favourite of Prince Charles—very apt as I had just been to see The Queen movie !!! ) Multitudes gathered after sunset ( mainly in the beachside pubs !!! ) and the comet appeared as if on cue to the left and below Venus.It displayed a long tail above it ( ie west to east in the Zodiacal plane ) but unlike the Hale - Bopp comet there was no ” fishtail .” The show lasted a good 1/2 hour—thankyou Dr. McNaught !!!!!
Mike Morley.
January 17th, 2007 at 1:40 am
We had an excellent half hours view of the comet, tonight, 17 Jan., 2007.
We watched it from the top of Mount Moturoa, in New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was very bright, with a long trailing tail, as it sank below the horizon, in the SW sky.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:37 am
There was an excellant view from Auckland the night of January 18th from Mount Roskill looking due South West across the Manukau harbour and heads.
At first the small crowd gathered were about to give up about 20 or so minutes after sunset. Nothing seemed to happen.Then someone saw something tucked underneath a wisp of cloud.As it got darker the comet got brighter putting on at last a great show.We were all delighted.Many of us remebered the disapointment of Halley’s comet back in1988.McNaught’s has made up for this in a special way.
So glad I bought my 11 year old and his mate.I vividly recall my father’s account of Halley’s comet in 1901 at age 9.Then it stretched right across the sky
January 18th, 2007 at 4:53 am
We had a great viewing at Toowoomba Qld tonight (18 January approx. 7:30pm EST). Wonderful to be able to share such a wonderful comet experience with my children with such an excellent vision/clarity! A trip to the planterium is on the social diary now!
Thanks Dr McNaught!
January 18th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Heard about comet on news etc, cloud conditions in N.S.W. covering view,
However, I walked out to the front verandah, and peered SWS, and rang
everybody I knew with kids to go stand and see. Awesome! Not many lights where we live, and the more the sun went down the brighter the comet became.(reflection from Sun I guess) Area of View, is Cessnock. N.S.W. Koolang Observatory at Bucketty would have been great! Let’s
hope Comet rides the skies tomorrow. My view took place at approx 19:45
Bellbird. N.S.W. (Cessnock) Fantastic!
January 18th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Hi we watched the comet from Linksfiled Ridge in Johanesburg on 18 January 2007 from 19 h20 to 20h 15.
We set up a telescope and about 40 people looked at the comet,some comments from the kids were fantastic.
January 19th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I’m in Johannesburg, South Africa - we had about 30 minutes of the most amazing view last night around 19h20 - 18/01/2007 as the sun set.
I’ve also seen some stunning pictures taken from Table Mountain in Capetown on 17/01/2007.
January 19th, 2007 at 2:36 am
January 19th 2007. 9:00pm Just had a wonderful view of the comet from Speers Point in NSW, Australia. Started viewing at approx 9:00pm and finished approx 9:25pm. The comet was spectacular. It had a huge and long curving tail, explained to us by an ameteur astonomer that was in the viewing crowd that the tail is acctually pushed away from the earth by the sun! We found this to be quite fascinating.
once again thank you Dr McNaught!
January 19th, 2007 at 7:24 am
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
Quick thanks to all the people who have posted their McNaught sightings. If any amateur photogs out there have shots of the comet we would happily post them (with credit of course). If you’d like to contribute a photo for the blog please send it to editor@thedesignofeverything.com.
Thanks.