Starship Asterisk*

Clouds, Comet, and Crescent Moon

Explanation: In silhouette against the colorful evening twilight glow, clouds part in this much anticipated magic moment. The scene captures naked-eye Comet PanSTARRS peeking into northern hemisphere skies on March 12. The comet stands over the western horizon after sunset, joined by the thin, flattened crescent of a day old Moon. Posing for its own beauty shot, the subtly lit dome of the 4.2 meter William Herschel Telescope is perched above cloud banks on the Canary Island of La Palma. While PanSTARRS has not quite developed into the spectacular comet once hoped for, it is still growing easier to see in the north. In coming days it will steadily climb north, farther from the Sun into darker western evening skies.

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Great APOD

Interesting image
The clouds and comet have something of surrealist picture

I looked for this comet last evening. It is too dim to be visible, at least easily, from my location. I will look again tonight.

It was a beauty from central Texas on March 12.

Will try again to see it tonight, clouds permitting..

:---[===] *

My husband and I live not far from where this lovely image was taken - but we were below the clouds that can be seen at the bottom of this Apod... So couldn't see a thing!

We'll try again!
Margarita

Has been too cloudy in our location to see this comet and the forecast is not looking good. (sigh)

I was not able to see PanSTARRS on Tuesday evening March 12, but several friends at other locations in and near San Francisco saw it briefly through the clouds. Last night, Wednesday March 13, there were fewer clouds. I saw the comet from the top of Bernal Hill, with binoculars 35 minutes after local sunset, almost directly below the waxing crescent Moon, and faintly naked eye ten minutes later. Through binoculars it was a lovely sight, with a bright nucleus, coma, and short dust tail. A group of about a dozen people gathered; some had come to look for the comet and others were attracted by the excitement. And it was truly exciting.

Mr. Tafreshi's photo is beautiful. The comet appears similar to how it looked to me through the binoculars last night.

Best wishes to everyone who is trying to see this comet.

The picture is absolutely beautiful and seems to be painted by the hands of a being greater than I.

chaz wrote:The picture is absolutely beautiful and seems to be painted by the hands of a being greater than I.

A being whose name is Babak Tafreshi.

Rob