Brightest Comet In Decades Now Visible

mlimber writes "Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1), the brightest comet in decades, is currently visible to the naked eye in the early evening and early morning sky for the northern hemisphere. The northern latitudes have the best view, but it can be seen even in the southern hemisphere during the day with the right equipment. Another image is available as NASA's astronomy picture of the day." Here is a graphic of the comet's evening location from 40 degrees north latitude.

Re:Mmm

[badboy_tw2002]

I'm not sure why you find astronomy and the fruit of a palm tree compatible, but I'll be sure to bring some when my D&D group/LUG/WoW clan go watch this comet.

Re:Wonderful....

[Otter]

And here I had a perfect reason to break out the ol' 4.5" that goes woefully underutilized most days...

I can't bring myself to do it...

Anyway, the map is helpful if you can recognize Altair, but a bit less so for those of us who have to locate anything in the sky by the Big Dipper and Orion. I don't understand how if it's the "brightest comet in decades" I haven't noticed it, though. Hale-Bopp was pretty obvious. Is this one going to be getting much brighter than it is now?

Re:Wonderful....

[Surt]

I can't bring myself to do it...

Oh come on, it's not like 4.5" isn't a perfectly respectable width, I'll admit mine is only a little wider.

Aperture size

[benhocking]

Nah, 4.5" is just the size of the aperture.