|
New
Comet Is Causing A Buzz
By
James Pugsley
Astronomy North
(YELLOWKNIFE, NWT) Northerners are catching a glimpse
of Comet McNaught this week and the buzz has sparked
a flurry of anxious e-mails and phone calls to Astronomy
North.
For anyone concerned about a "fireball in the
sky" have no fear. This is actually a chance
for northerners to enjoy a rare view of this recently
discovered comet as it prepares to orbit the Sun.
There is no threat to Earth.
Comet McNaught is expected to shine at sunset on Wednesday,
January 10, Thursday January 11 and Friday January
12. Look for its bright glowing tail low on the western
horizon just after sunset and low on the eastern horizon
just before sunrise.
This strange "fireball" was reported by
skywatchers across the Arctic this week. Pilot Chris
Duggan was on his way to Taloyoak on Monday when he
spotted the tail. Twenty-four hours later the comet
was bright enough to be seen by Yellowknifers on their
way home from work. On Tuesday it was even seen as
far north as Sachs Harbour, where the Sun remains
below the horizon for 24 hours.
If you have any photographs or comments you would
like to share, send an e-mail to info@astronomynorth.com
today. Many thanks to Ted Oliveira of Yellowknife
for submitting this superb photo taken on Tuesday
just after sunset.
Comet McNaught was discovered in August of 2006 by
Australian skywatcher Robert McNaught and is making
its closest approach to the Sun in the coming days
(25 million kilometres).
A long tail is a very distinctive feature of these
city-sized iceballs as they approach a star and eject
debris and gases that are heated by the Sun. To the
amazement of many this week, McNaught quickly became
the brightest visible comet in 30 years, shining as
bright as Venus, also located very close to McNaught
in the sky.
NICE SHOT! • Comet McNaught was a spectacle worthy
of Lawrence Norbert's attention, so he grabbed his
Canon EOS Rebel to snap this photo at 5:45 p.m. MST
on January 9 in Inuvik. (1/40 sec., 2.4, 1600 ISO
with 70-200mm lens)
|
