LOOK! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a comet!

[havocmom]

Heading toward the sun, so getting warmer and brighter! Ooooo-ah! Just the ticket for those of us sad about the Christmas Light Season being over. :D

http://spaceweather.com/

Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) is plunging toward the Sun and brightening dramatically. Alan Dyer of Cluny, southern Alberta, Canada, took this picture at sunset on Jan. 6th:



"The comet is bright in the evening twilight, easily visible through binoculars. I estimate its magnitude to be -1," says Dyer. To find the comet, he advises, face the sunset and look to the right of Venus.

The comet is also visible in the morning sky. It hugs the eastern horizon, emerging just ahead of the rising sun. Scan the horizon with binoculars to find it beaming through the glow of dawn.

More info and images at site.

gallery of Comet McNaught photos