Follow us on
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » Science & Technology
Wish Happy New Year to rare comet on January 1
Friday January 1, 2016 10:48 AM, IANS

Catalina

Washington:
Did you get a pair of binoculars or a telescope? If so, you can put them to the test by searching the Eastern sky for a view of a fuzzy comet on the first day of 2016.

Comet Catalina, formally known as "C/2013 US10", is currently perched in the pre-dawn skies as it returns to the depths of space following a recent visit to the inner part of our solar system, NASA said in a statement.

At minimum, binoculars are required to view the comet which will appear as a fuzzy envelope of ice and dust, known as a coma.

Perhaps the simplest way to find Comet Catalina is to first locate the "Big Dipper" in the pre-dawn sky.

Note how the handle forms a sort of "arc".

That "arc" can be followed to the orange giant star known as Arcturus which, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, is the second brightest star in the sky and relatively easy to identify.

On New Year's day, the comet will pass a mere 0.5 degrees - about the width of the moon - to the west of Arcturus.

So if you head outdoors 60-90 minutes before dawn, let Arcturus serve as your guide to find the faint, fuzzy patch of Comet Catalina.

"Of course, for optimal viewing, it's recommended that you observe away from streetlights and city skyglow," the statement read.

If you miss Comet Catalina, don't despair. You can still be treated to an alternate planetary extravaganza in the morning sky where Venus gleams in the southeast.

Just before dawn on New Year's Day, Saturn will be about eight degrees to the lower left of Venus. By January 4, the pair will appear even closer together.

On January 6 and 7, the waning crescent moon slips by the planetary pair.

And on the morning of January 8, Venus and Saturn are separated by a mere 0.4 degrees (less than one moon-width).

The celestial dance continues through January so that near month's end, the five planets known as the "ancients" span the sky from the southeast to the southwest in the morning twilight.

In order (across the southern sky), these are Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter.



 

Share this page
More Headlines
117 Muslim students from across India felicitated, AFMI Bhopal convention concludes
Leave, working from home: Delhites go the extra mile to avoid odd-even restrictions
AIBEA perceives merger of associates with SBI, go ahead with January 8 strike
Similarity in Islam, Catholic beliefs making US Latinos to convert to Islam
Facebook's Free Basics services shut down in Egypt
Congress issues notice to Amit Jogi, seeks Raman Singh's resignation
2015: The deadliest year on record for American Muslims
Congress bags majority of seats in Karnataka council polls
Zakir Naik banned in Karnataka: NRI in police net for insulting top cop
Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Muhammad Sayeed shifted to ICU
ATUFS for technology upgradation of textile industry gets cabinet nod
Vardhin Manoj is first Indian in Harvard University's soccer team
TN Muslim group issues 'Fatwa' against Ramdev's Patanjali for containing cow urine
IIT, IISc academicians slam Facebook's Free Basics
Google as your doctor? Not without risk
E-tailers log out smart buyers from costly retailers
DDCA official sought sex for selecting players: Kejriwal
Minor's gang rape in train: Soldier sent to custody, army assures cooperation
Nine BJP members held, probe ordered into Assam Congress office attack
PMO refuses to accept Sanjiv Chaturvedi's award money
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella promises help to promote startups in Hyderabad
'Congress Darshan' content editor sacked, party distances from journal
Offered liquor and gang raped by army men in running train: Girl says in complaint
 Post Comments
Note: By posting your comments here you agree to the terms and conditions of www.ummid.com