Comet PanSTARRS Now Visible – Where to Look to See it in the Evening Sky

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, our opportunity to see comet Panstarrs is finally here. All over the internet, pictures and images of comet Panstarrs, taken over the last few days, have been posted online. Some of the best pictures of Panstarrs, officially named comet C/2011 L4, were taken next to a crescent moon.

The viewing opportunities for comet Panstarrs continues through the Month of March, with the best chance to see the comet from Marth 12th to March 24th. While seeing comet Panstarrs with the naked eye is possible, a better image will be seen with the aid of a small pair of binoculars or a telescope.

Where and when to look skyward to see comet Panstarrs?
To see the comet, look west just as the sun sets for reference. Comet Panstarrs should be visible for a short time just after sunset low in the sky. The image on this page from NASA helps to show you where to look in the sky to see Panstarrs and how the comet should look.

In this NASA video below, more information is provided about the history of comets and specifically where to look to get your best viewing opportunities of comet PanStarrs as well as another comet in November 2013.