Pan-STARRS comet about to star in Northwest's starry skies
2013 could go down as the year of the comet with not just one, but two brilliant displays this year.
Comet ISON has been getting much of the attention as it is set to bring perhaps the most spectacular show we've seen in decades when it appears this fall.
But for those who can't wait, consider the upcoming Pan-STARRS comet a nice astronomical appetizer.
Pan-STARRS passed within 100 million miles of Earth on Tuesday, its closest approach in its first-ever cruise through the inner solar system. The ice ball will get even nearer the sun this weekend - just 28 million miles from the sun and within the orbit of Mercury.
The comet has been visible for weeks from the Southern Hemisphere, making for some spectacular photos. Now our half of the world gets a glimpse as well.
The absolute best viewing days should be next Tuesday and Wednesday, when Pan-STARRS appears next to a crescent moon at dusk in the western sky. Until then, glare from the sun will obscure the comet.
California astronomer Tony Phillips said the comet's proximity to the moon will make it easier for novice sky watchers to find it. Binoculars likely will be needed for the best viewing, he said, warning onlookers to avoid pointing them at the setting sun.
"Wait until the sun is fully below the horizon to scan for the comet in the darkening twilight," Phillips advised in an email sent from his home and observatory in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
But as usual with major celestial events, the question around here is -- will the weather cooperate?
As of right now, it's not looking very good, but there is a ray of hope.
A series of weather systems are pegged to move through the Northwest early next week, and this is the forecasted cloud cover for Monday night. Not very promising:
Prospects are a little better for Tuesday night which at least might have clearing spots.
Unfortunately, the comet will begin to fade away as the March progresses and by the end of the month, will be too faint to find unless you've got access to major telescopes. But as it does so, keep looking in the western skies just after sunset. It'll be close to the moon through the 14th and then the comet swings above the star Algenib on March 17/18, and above the star Alpheratz on March 25/26, according to EarthSky.org
Here is more information on Pan-STARRS:
As we mentioned, this will be just a warm up to the big Comet ISON show expected from October to December. That comet could be as bright as the full moon and perhaps even visible during the daylight hours. Just have to hope for a clear day or three in there as well.
And as always, if you get lucky and find yourself in a clear spot and get some photos of the comet, we'd love to see them. You can submit them to our YouNews site
More Information:
NASA's site on Pan-STARRS
SpaceWeather.com
EarthSky.org
Associated Press Aerospace writer Marcia Dunn contributed to this report
Don't forget the asteroid this weekend too 2013 ET.  "The 330-foot-wide asteroid 2013 ET will miss Earth by 600,000 miles when it zips by on Saturday."Â
In a statement released by the white house just moments ago the comet has canceled its scheduled arrival due to the sequester.  Uugghhh looks like we lose again.   /shakes fist in anger.
@Richard Goezinyah Is that due to a shortage of solid rocket fuel? or do we all simply need to eat more beans to counteract the force of gravity? Oh, wait . . . . too much CO2 generated! Cease and desist or else feel the wrath of the Sauron Empire! Ahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Figures that we have good weather right now and it's going to be cloudy next week.
Living in Portland has taught this amateur astronomer the meaning of the word humility.
But there is no power on earth that will keep me away from the high Oregon desert in August of 2017.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html
@Festivus Send me a reminder around August 1, 2017, please.
@Festivus Missed the 79' eclipse. Not this one. See you there!
@Festivus I'll be joining you there! Can't wait for that one.
@HuskyKMAÂ @FestivusExcellent! Â Too bad the Oregon Star Party site is too far off the central line. Â I'm thinking somewhere in the Umatilla National Forest off of Highway 26, weather permitting - there's some great campgrounds along that part of the road. Â
I remember the last comet we had that was visible, awesome, I hope they put on a good show (and we see it!).
I'm really hoping that we'll get to see it.
Hope we don't get a bunch of crazies thinking the comet is coming to pick them up like the last big one.
@old_dollor @Dr. Rawdog Crazies?  You mean the Marshall Applewhite group?  What's crazy about a religious UFO group that believes in self-castration and thinks they're going to be swept up in a comet?  Jeesh -- they had NEW Nikes on when their bodies were found, every last one of them.  No, the crazies own lots of guns, hate everyone and comment a lot on various news forums.  Uh oh -- we might be......nah! Â
Pretty neat.