Earthsky.org-3/8/13, Deborah Byrd
Note from DesertGypsy: I was unable to view the comet last night due to cloud cover, if anyone sees this please post in comments with description of sighting.
As seen from mid-northern latitudes, Comet Panstarrs might become visible with an optical aid around March 7 or 8. However, the comet will sit in the glow of dusk and will set around 40 to 45 minutes after sunset. By March 12, the comet will be considerably higher in the sky and will set around 75 minutes after sun. What’s more, the comet will be next to the waxing crescent moon on the North American evening of March 12.
March 5, 2013. Comet PANSTARRS passes closest to Earth at 1.10 Astronomical Units, (AU). One AU equals one Earth-sun distance, about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. In other words, this comet will pass slightly farther from us than our distance from the sun. No worries about it hitting us.
Starting about March 7, 2013. PANSTARRS will appear above the western horizon after sunset for viewers at U.S. latitudes. To see it, you will need an unobstructed, cloudless view of the west after sunset. It is best to pick a dark spot, away from streetlights. Look in the sunset direction, as soon as the sky darkens. The comet will be just above the horizon. In Los Angeles (34° N) last night (March 6), observers at Griffith Observatory announced they would try to spot the comet. For that latitude, the comet was only 3° above the horizon 20 minutes after sunset. It would have been a very tough observation! I didn’t hear that they spotted it, but, remember, the comet will get easier to see each day from latitudes like those in the U.S.
For more information and pictures of sightings please refer to earthsky.org
