Comet watchers need scopes, sharp eyes

Retired Geosciences Prof Steve Dutch sends us this photo taken Wednesday night (March 13) from the campus bayshore near Lambeau Cottage. See the Comet PANSTARRS? In this image the comet is faintly visible about one-third of the way down the image, almost directly above the bright light at bottom. (This view is looking back toward the mouth of the Fox River and the Pulliam Plant emissions stack.) Dutch said that by early the week of March 18, the comet will be slowly moving north (right, in the photo) and higher from the horizon, but probably also fainter. He said it should be easy to see in binoculars and maybe with the unaided eye from a very dark location.
National Public Radio carried a report over the weekend on the comet. Click here.