Approaching comet may outshine the moon

[IDemo]

Dec 28 (Reuters) - A comet blazing toward Earth could outshine the full moon when it passes by at the end of next year - if it survives its close encounter with the sun.

The recently discovered object, known as comet ISON, is due to fly within 1.2 million miles (1.9 million km) from the center of the sun on Nov. 28, 2013 said astronomer Donald Yeomans, head of NASA's Near Earth Object Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

As the comet approaches, heat from the sun will vaporize ices in its body, creating what could be a spectacular tail that is visible in Earth's night sky without telescopes or even binoculars from about October 2013 through January 2014.

If the comet survives, that is.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/space-comet-idUSL1E8NS5AL20121228

[tridim]

1. I loved when Haley was around, looking forward to this.

[backwoodsbob]

3. Hale-Bopp (sp) was the one for me

was delivering papers at the time it was here...I got to see that bad boy for days

[tridim]

4. Absolutely! Even the cult stuff was entertaining.

[Odin2005]

2. A bright Sungrazer, AWESOME!

[sakabatou]

5. I wonder if I'll be able to see with all the light pollution

[HillWilliam]

6. The benefit of living out in the sticks is

I have wonderful viewing. I'm really looking forward to this.

[neverforget]

7. I hope it lives up to the hype.

Comets are awesome spectacles.

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. +1. Those old enough to remember Kohoutek will understand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Kohoutek

[neverforget]

9. I was only 3 then but I thought Hale-Bopp was pretty cool though

[friendly_iconoclast]

10. Hale-Bopp was spectacular.

[neverforget]

11. I remember driving from Billings, MT to Missoula at night and seeing Hale Bopp in the

western sky. It was spectacular seeing that under dark sky conditions.

There was another comet about 5 years ago we could see soon after sunset but I can't remember the name of it. Was it Comet McNaught? Regardless, I took my wife and baby daughter up to the top of a hill to see it. That was a good one too.

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. Hell, it was spectacular even in the suburbs of Boston...