Comet Pan-STARRS will be visible to the naked eye this month. Listed below are a few tips from scientists to get the best view of the comet.
If the weather permits, the comet could be as bright as a first-magnitude star on the brightness scale of night sky objects.
Comet Pan-STARRS has been appearing for months in the Southern Hemisphere night sky. March 5 was when the comet was closest to the Earth. Now, the comet will make its first appearance in the Northern Hemisphere sky on Thursday.
The website Space shared a few tips that would allow viewers to get the best view possible:
* Look for it in the west, just to the left of the point on your horizon where the sun sets, shortly after sunset beginning in the next few days.
*Try to find a site with a very low western horizon to improve your chances of catching sight of the comet early. The farther south you live on Earth, the more likely you are to see it early. Any haze in the air will make it harder to see the comet.
According to a report, the comet will be the brightest March 10 when it makes its closest approach to the Sun. On Sunday the comet will still be in the sky but may be lost in the Sun's glare. The brightness, however, will diminish with each passing day, scientists say.
Scientists also advice that people could prepare for two comet-watching dates this month - i.e. March 12 and 13. On these evenings, the thin crescent moon will be close to the comet in the sky.
