golocalprov.com, 3/2/13, Dave Heustis
Comet Hale-Bopp as captured by Dave Huestis from his snowy backyard in Rhode Island on April 1, 1997.
Comet PANSTARRS is heading toward Earth and will become visible to the naked eye over Rhode Island beginning March 8, 2013. When is the last time you observed a naked-eye comet? For many of you the answer will most likely be 1997. And the comet was the beautiful Hale-Bopp. Here in southern New England Hale-Bopp was well placed for observers during the last week of March into the first week or so of April. In fact, the accompanying image was taken on April 1 from my backyard as I stood in 18-inches of fresh snow!
While there have been many other comets since then, quite a few of them have been better observed from the southern hemisphere. Others were not as bright as Hale-Bopp, or only appeared during a short observing window, like Comets McNaught and Machholz.
For more information on viewing comets click this link!
