Southern Hemisphere observers will have the best views during February (for detailed information, see "
What to expect from Comet PANSTARRS in February").
On the 1st, the comet glows at 7th magnitude. It will brighten ò?? perhaps
to 2nd magnitude ò?? and track rapidly eastward throughout the month.
Early morning observers south of the equator will find it passing
through southern
Sagittarius,
Corona Australis,
Microscopium,
Grus, and Ò-
Piscis Austrinus.
The
comet pushes northward during March, and at midmonth it becomes visible
in the evening sky for Northern Hemisphere observers. If it reaches its
predicted brightness, it may appear around March 6 or 7, although only a
degree above the western horizon 30 minutes after sunset. Each
following day, the comet climbs 1ÒÀ to 2ÒÀ higher, which dramatically
improves its visibility. By the time it reaches perihelion (its closest
approach to the Sun) March 9/10, Comet PANSTARRS lies 7ÒÀ high in the west 30
minutes after sunset and could shine at magnitude 0. As dusk soaks up
the Sunò??s rays and the sky darkens, the cometò??s ethereal tail may come
into view.
From perihelion to the end of March, the comet moves almost due north through
Pisces and
Andromeda
while its brightness drops by about a magnitude every five days. The
tail of Comet PANSTARRS swings through 90ÒÀ, turning from east to north.
Depending on how much dust the comet produces, this could create a nice
broad dust tail to go along with a finer, straighter gas tail.