Bright comet in dawn sky now near horizon

Sometimes we wait for a long time for a comet like Halley's in 1986 to come by and give us a show. But Halley's at it's best was only 3rd magnitude and was a disappointment. Our luck it comes by every 76 years but it decided to comet by this time too far away from Earth ( the worst pass I researched in 1000 years).

But sometimes one comes from out of the blue, literally, and puts on a great and even better show.Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) is here to watch while you can and before it leaves.


It first was discovered in August but now as this comet gets close to the Sun and Mercury it is really growing bright and putting on a show. The only problem, it is difficult to to spot as it is getting closer and closer to the sun.

It is very bright comet in the dawn sky now near the horizon. The trick is you have to have to find it.Now it is about 2nd magnitude which is as bright as most of the stars in the Big Dipper. But the brightness is spread around so they are more difficult to see then a star. But seeing the tail may help.

I tried this morning but could not see it. I will try again.

use spaceweather.com to see the latest photo, print and see a sky map where it is to catch a glimp

Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) at its closest approach on Jan. 13th will be only 0.17 AU away--much closer than Mercury (0.38 AU). It will then appear about 1 degree near Mercury.
We hope that it does not completely burn up or fall apart as some comet do when they come close to the Sun.

Meteorite came from asteroid originally

It is amazing that this little piece of metal hit the house. While small it still packed a punch to go through the roof and finally lodge in the wall. The local scientists have determined it came from a asteroid originally but it will be interesting to hear even more specifics. Did meteorite come from Vesta or another asteroid?

"The team has determined the meteorite is very metal-rich, and possibly represents the deep interior of an asteroid. Its coloration, markings, density and magnetic properties are characteristic of an iron meteorite," Brightman said.

More info at link above