I remember Haley’s comet in the 1980s. It was a disappointment. I never saw it.
The one which inspired the suicide cult was better but still nothing extra. At least I could see it.
*ping*
The night of December 15, 2018, may provide your best views of comet 46P/Wirtanen. First, look at the familiar stars of Orion, then look up to the stars that compose the Pleiades cluster in Taurus. By mid-December, the comet is located very close to this easy-to-find group of stars. Facing east, shortly after nightfall.
Photos taken by an amateur in Newton, MA using a 6" telescope on December 4th and December 8th, showing increase in brightness and size. It is visible at about 10 PM Local time due south at an elevation of 47 degrees from latitude 42 N. Add one degree of elevation for each degree south of 42 N, subtract one for each degree N. Visible in moderately light polluted skies through 7 x 50 binoculars, or equivalent. Total brightness is about the same as Mars, but more diffuse.With no friction in space, what creates the tail?
I’ve seen about 4 comets. Hale-Bopp was once-in-a-lifetime. Maybe twice, but most people don’t even see one like that.
A few days ago there was a prediction that the Andromedid meteors might put on a real show this year (associated with Comet Biela). I haven’t had a chance to look (cloudy skies every night) and haven’t heard anything further. Did they actually materialize?
