Last Chance: Where to Look for the Comet Pan-STARRS

Clearing skies will give Northern Virginia skywatchers a pretty good shot at seeing the Comet Pan-STARRS Tuesday and Wednesday at dusk.

Comet Pan-STARRS (also known as Comet Panstarrs), a glob of ice and dust from the heavens, was closest to Earth last Tuesday, but clouds from the snowstorm-that-wasn't prevented most in our area from seeing it. 

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, March 12 and 13, are the next best chance you have to see it. Space.com recommends looking toward the west to find the Comet Pan-STARRS, near the moon.

Its bright dust tail might be visible to the naked eye, though some have suggested using binoculars (but only after sunset so not to injure the eyes) to see it. 

Unlike most meteor showers, the comet should be most visible not in the darkest hours of the night or morning, but at twilight. (In Virginia, we're at a disadvantage because of all the light pollution surrounding us.)

There are more tips for viewing on this video of Panstarrs.

Comet Panstarrs is named Pan-STARRS for the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, the telescope that was used in its discovery.

Interested in Astronomy? Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium hosts regular programs. Read more about the Planetarium.