[Bluearrowll]

What's in the sky tonight?
March 18, 2013

-Comet PanSTARRS, for all the attention it's receiving, has turned out to be barely visible to the unaided eye, and only if you know exactly where to look. That would be low in twilight, due west or just a little to the right of due west now, about 45 minutes after sunset. This week the comet starts fading even as it gains a bit more altitude as seen from the world's mid-northern latitudes. Bring binoculars or, better, a low-power, wide-field telescope.

-This diagram is drawn for a viewer near 40° north latitude (Denver, New York, Madrid) 30 minutes after sunset. If you're south of there, the comet will be a little higher above your horizon early in the month than shown here. North of 40°, it will be a little lower early in March than shown here.

-Look lower right of the Moon this evening for Jupiter, and upper right of the Moon for Beta Tauri (El Nath).

Astro Picture of the Day:
March 18, 2013

Source:
Have you seen the comet? As Comet PANSTARRS fades, careful observers - even with unaided eyes - should still be able to find the shedding ice ball on the western horizon just after sunset. Pictured above, Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) was pointed out from a hilltop last week on First Encounter Beach in Massachusetts, USA. The comet was discovered by - and is named for - the Pan-STARRS astronomical sky survey that discovered it. As the comet now recedes from both the Earth and the Sun, it will remain visible further into the night, although binoculars or a small telescope will soon to be needed to find it.