Look Up to See Comet Pan-STARRS in March – Possibly Visible to the Naked Eye

If you have ever wanted to get a live view of a comet in the night sky, this month of March could your chance. Astronomers have already confirmed sighting comet C/2011 L4, also known as comet PanSTARRS in the night sky in the southern hemisphere. (watch a video of the comet sighting here) As for the rest of us in the northern hemisphere, our opportunity to see comet Pan-STARRS in the sky is almost here.

While the best opportunity to see comet PanSTARRS will be from March 12th to March 24th 2013, you may be able to get a glimpse of it by the end of the week. The information video below on comet Pan-STARRS from NASA will provide more information on where to look and what to expect.

PanSTARRS, like other comets is believed to come from an area near the outer reaches of our solar system, known as the Ort cloud. In this area are millions of chunks of rock and ice left over from the formation of the solar system. Periodically one of these falls out of its orbit and heads for a pass near the sun.

As the ice heats up approaching the sun, the melting ice creates what is commonly referred to as the comet’s tail. This pass by comet Pan STARRS is its first according to astronomers. It is a new comet, and exactly how bright it will be is not certain, however most expect it to be very visible in the western sky just after sunset.

Where to look to see comet PanSTARRS?
While a telescope or binoculars will give you a better view, experts expect that Pan STARRS will be visible to the naked eye. To see the comet, look to the west just after sunset. Comet PanSTARRS should be visible just to the left and slightly higher than the Moon. As the month continues, the comet will appear more and more to the right of that position each evening.

This information video about comet Pan-STARRS explains more about the comet and what viewers can expect to see in the sky. NASA has cautioned that “Comet Pan-STARRS should not be confused with another, even better comet coming later this year. In Nov. 2013, Comet ISON could shine as brightly as a full Moon in broad daylight when it passes through the atmosphere of the sun.”