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Hunting Comet PanStarrs
By Bob Ede
My friend, Dave and I have been looking for Comet PanStarrs since the beginning of March. Dave is a kindred spirit and enjoys rolling along the back roads in search of dark skies. We take our cameras along, but are just as happy stopping, walking through the bush and listening for owls hooting. Sometimes we will have a beer and sometimes we have a coffee – it depends on nothing. Our wives affectionately refer to us as ‘nerds’ and are happy to get rid of us for a little while.
In March, Comet PanStarrs was closest to the sun. We read the best time to observe it was looking west just after sunset. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we had little luck locating it. A combination of bad weather, cloudy skies, evening light and a full moon conspired against us.
By the end of March the comet was racing away from us heading back towards the distant Oort Cloud and Dave and I still had not seen it! It would be back 110,000 years later, but who knows where we would be. We were determined to see it this time around, but our window was closing.
On Saturday, March 30 I snapped a shot towards the northwest horizon. It was only after downloading the photo, that I noticed the comet. It was a fluke encounter.
It took a month but we finally found the elusive comet!
The next night, Dave and I were back out with our cameras. This time we knew precisely where to look. It was faint, about as bright as the Andromeda Galaxy, but unmistakable.
It just goes to show; there is no end to the wonders the night sky reveals – even if you don’t see it the first time!
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Comet PanStarrs should still be visible during the next few weeks, but will become fainter as it rises higher on the horizon. Here are a few tips to help you locate it:
Use binoculars.
Look after dusk toward the northwest. The photos accompanying this column were taken between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Use Aldebaran (the red star located under Jupiter) and The Pleiades as a pointer. As shown in the above illustrated photo.
PanStarrs is close to the Andromeda Galaxy and will become closer as it rises in the horizon.
Good luck and happy hunting!
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Bob and Dave are constantly trying to hitch a ride to the cosmos, but their wives keep them permanently grounded. Bob can be reached via email at: [email protected]
