New comet has brightened to naked-eye visibility

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In summary, the news story discusses the visibility of Comet Machholz, which can be seen with 7x50 binoculars. It will be easily visible to Northern Hemisphere viewers and there is a popular account and accurate ephemeris for tracking its location. However, clear night skies are needed to view the comet. Additionally, a night by night finder chart is available for those interested. The "Astronomy Picture of the day" for today also shows a picture of Comet Machholz, showcasing its two tails - the ion tail and dust tail. The ion tail always points away from the sun. The conversation also mentions the previous sighting of Hale-Bopp comet in 1997.
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turbo
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Here is a news story about it - get out those trusty old 7x50 binoculars and take a look!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&ncid=753&e=10&u=/space/20041207/sc_space/newcometnowvisibletonakedeye
 
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will it be visible to the northern hemisphere?
 
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It will be easily visible to Northern Hemisphere viewers. For a popular account, see this:

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/comet_winter_040917.html

For a very accurate ephemeris, see here:

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/2004Q2.html
 
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  • #4
excellent!....now i need a clear night :(
 
  • #5
Ditto.
By the way, if anyone's up for a night by night finder chart for the comet one can be found here- http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html
 
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"Astronomy Picture of the day" of today shows a picture of Comet Machholz, where is possible to appreciate its two tails: the ion tail and the dust tail. The ion tail always points away from the sun
I remember seeing Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 during a holyday in the Pyrenees. Really astonishing...
 

1. What does it mean when a comet is said to have brightened to naked-eye visibility?

When a comet is said to have brightened to naked-eye visibility, it means that the comet has become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye without the use of telescopes or binoculars. This is a rare occurrence and indicates that the comet is very close to Earth and reflects a significant amount of light.

2. How does a comet become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye?

A comet becomes bright enough to be seen with the naked eye when it passes close to the Sun and its icy surface begins to heat up and release gas and dust, creating a bright tail. This process is known as outgassing and can also be triggered by collisions with other objects in space.

3. What makes this new comet different from others that have brightened to naked-eye visibility?

This new comet, like all comets, is unique in its composition and trajectory. However, what sets it apart from others that have brightened to naked-eye visibility is its distance from Earth. This comet is particularly close to our planet, which is why it appears so bright in the night sky.

4. Is there any danger posed by this new comet?

No, this comet does not pose any danger to Earth. It is not on a collision course with our planet and will pass by harmlessly. Comets are often mistakenly associated with natural disasters or apocalyptic events, but in reality, they are just fascinating celestial objects that pose no threat to us.

5. How long will this comet be visible to the naked eye?

It is difficult to predict exactly how long this comet will remain visible to the naked eye, as it depends on a variety of factors such as its distance from Earth and how quickly it is moving away from the Sun. However, it is expected to be visible for several more weeks, giving stargazers ample time to catch a glimpse of this rare and beautiful sight.

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