This beautiful object was recently located in the evening sky and early morning sky too. Discovered August 7, 2006 by R. H. McNaught (Siding Spring Survey). It is approaching perihelion on Jan. 11, 2007 and was visible very low on the west horizon immediately after the sunset. It was visible in the daytime sky ( Jan 14, 2007 )& is the brightest comet since 1965. Now having moved southward it is only visible in the southern hemisphere.
The Comet as it asppears in the Daytime sky on Jan 16, 2007 at approx 1:30 pm. The sky has been make dark purposly to show that the planets Mercury & Venus are also nearby. Mercury is a bit over 5 degrees from the sun and Venus is approx. 19 degrees. The great comet is a scant 10.5 degrees from the sun on this date and time.
Note 10 degrees is just about a "fist wide" held with your arm fully extended. I imputed the orbital elements into Starry Night Pro to obtain this image. ( North is up on this on all images here.) Click on the above image to enlarge.

The Comet as it asppears in the Daytime sky on Jan 16, 2007 at approx 1:30 pm. The sky has been make dark purposly to show that the planets Mercury & Venus are also nearby. Mercury is a bit over 5 degrees from the sun and Venus is approx. 19 degrees. The great comet is a scant 10.5 degrees from the sun on this date and time.
Note 10 degrees is just about a "fist wide" held with your arm fully extended. I imputed the orbital elements into Starry Night Pro to obtain this image. ( North is up on this on all images here.) Click on the above image to enlarge.
Original size: 1012px x 666px |
Current: 400px x 263px |
This site features some great images.