TO FIND COMET LOVEJOY THIS WEEK - head outside after 10.30 pm, around moonrise, and look north-east to see the distinctive shape of the Orion constellation we call the “Saucepan.” Just above this is a brilliant bright blue white star, Rigel, and it’s your signpost to finding this extraordinary interloper. Pan around to the star’s left with your binoculars until you spot a green smudge. That’s it! Even with full Moon, comet Lovejoy has been easy to see in binoculars as a dim, fuzzy greenish ‘star.’ With the unaided eye it looks like a small ball of cotton wool and in even small telescopes a thin faint tail can be seen. You’re watching history here, comet Lovejoy will not be seen again till the year 10,000! The comet will continue to shine as it heads towards maximum brightness on Sunday night then folks in the Northern hemisphere get their chance to ogle this little Aussie discovered visitor from the outer reaches of the solar system.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 06:28:50 +0000