Comet PanSTARRS: How to See it in March 2013 - 0 views
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we could have the first naked eye comet of 2013 for northern hemisphere observers in early March
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if it performs
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The projected brightness curve
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Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) based on the summit of Haleakala on the island of Maui
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comet brightened ahead of expectations and was first picked up by an amateur astronomer on March 28th of last year
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Comet PanSTARRS is already an impressive sight for southern hemisphere observers
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Comet PanSTARRS will then begin curving northward during the last week of February
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the comet has a hyperbolic orbit inclined 84.2° degrees relative to the ecliptic
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On an 110,000+ year orbit, this is more than likely Comet PanSTARRS first journey through the inner solar system
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Comet PanSTARRS will reach an altitude of greater than 5° at dusk for northern hemisphere observers based around 30° north latitude looking low to the southwest starting on March 5th.
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The comet will then begin gaining altitude
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Keep in mind, Daylight Saving Time begins
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looking for the comet around 7:00 pm local on the first week of March, it’ll be at 8:00 pm on the second week
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After gaining
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elevation from our northern hemisphere vantage point
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will then begin running roughly parallel to the western horizon on each successive evening for mid-northern latitude observers
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This first half of March is also when Comet PanSTARRS will have the potential to appear at its brightest
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best case scenario, we’ll have a comet with a -1st magnitude coma and a tail pointing straight up from the horizon like an exclamation point.
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worst case situation, we’ll have a +3rd magnitude fuzzy comet only visible through binoculars
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if you observe the comet on no other night, be sure to check it out on the evening of March 12-13th
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will be joined by a slim crescent Moon just over a day old.
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Comet PanSTARRS will then continue its trek northward
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for the remainder of March
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By May 1st, Comet PanSTARRS will have dipped back down below naked eye visibility