Staragazing: Telescope gives glimpse of approaching comet

The Pan-STARRS prototype telescope PS1, situated high up on the slopes of Haleakala, Maui. (Photo courtesy of Rob Ratkowski for the PS1 Science Consortium)

The anticipation for comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) is running high as the time draws near when it expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility. If it responds as expected, it would be the brightest comet in six years.

C/2011 L4 is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011 that is expected to be visible to the naked eye near the time of its perihelion on March 10. The southern hemisphere will get a view of its closest approach to Earth on March 5. It should be visible to northern hemisphere observers between March 12 and March 24.