Johannesburg - Twilight will be a magical time this week as a new comet, Comet McNaught, is expected to arrive and dazzle South African star gazers.
Reported to be the brightest comet visible from earth in the last 30 years, McNaught sparkled its way across the northern hemisphere last week.
"It will remain a spectacular comet for weeks, perhaps months, in the Southern Hemisphere," Nasa astronomer Tony Phillips told the Associated Press.
"It could emerge as the brightest comet in recorded history."
Dr Claire Flanagan, director of the Johannesburg Planetarium, said southern African sky watchers should get a glimpse of Comet McNaught from Monday.
The long, cloud-shaped formation will be visible in the early evening sky for at least a week, she said.
'Elongated cloud'
"To see the comet, all you need is a clear view to the west. Go out and start looking as the sun sets.
"The comet will look like an elongated cloud pointing upwards and to the left.
"About an hour after sunset the comet will have disappeared below the horizon, but it will re-appear the next evening, a little further to the left (south)."
McNaught will be very low, just above the horizon to the south west. It will get fainter and a little higher as the week goes by, said Flanagan.
A comet is a lump of ice, about five kilometres in diameter which orbits the sun and can develop a tail millions of kilometres in length made of ice, gas and dust.
This comet was discovered by Australian astronomer RH McNaught in 2006, reports said.
Perhaps I can get a photo or two of this....
|
