Eye on the Sky: Comet not due back for 8000 years

Comet Lovejoy

WITH summer now well upon us and the solstice behind us, the days will start to get shorter, but this will be almost unnoticeable until about February.

This month we have a visitor, with comet Lovejoy gracing our skies.

It was discovered last year on August 17 by Australian comet hunter Terry Lovejoy. It isn't due back for 8000 years.

At the moment it is shining at magnitude four, which is about as bright as the fourth star in the Southern Cross.

It will remain this bright until about mid-January, then fade and by month's end be all but impossible to see in the evening twilight as it heads westward.

Views of late have been marred by the presence of the full moon.

By the end of next week the last quarter moon will be rising after midnight and we should have our best views of the comet then, though you will probably need binoculars to see it.

To get a good view, get away from the city lights and get a pair of binoculars. Look for the constellation of Orion in the northwest, distinguishable by three bright stars in a row.

Between now and January 19 you can find the comet along a line from Rigel through to Matariki. The comet will be above Matariki on the 19th. By mid-February the comet will be gone.

As for the planets, Jupiter should be rising before midnight and be an evening planet.

Venus has also moved into our evening sky. Venus and Mercury form a conjunction in the evening sky tonight.

Mars and Saturn make an appearance in the morning sky just before sunrise.

For more information about comets and anything astronomical, contact the Rotorua Astronomical Society. You can find them on Facebook.