(See description below)
Comet McNaught
Comet McNaught-Hartlry has become known as The Great Comet of 2007. It is named after its first observer, Robert McNaught (an Australian astronomer).
Comet McNaught first became visible to the naked eye in early January 2007. It was visible in the northern hemisphere near Venus, Aquila, and Ophiuchus, until about January 13, 2007. Perhielion (closest approach to the sun) was January 12, 2007 at a distance of
0.17 AU. Due to its proximity to the sun it had a short window for viewing, and could only be spotted during twilight.
The comet entered SOHO LASCO C3's field of view on January 12, and quickly became brighter than
Comet NEAT in 2003.
On January 12, McNaught became the brightest comet in more than 40 years, being the brightest comet seen since Comet Ikeya-Seki in 1965. The comet has been dubbed the Great Comet of 2007.
On January 13 and 14, 2007, the comet attained an estimated maximum apparent magnitude of
5.5 in the Northern Hemisphere. Perigee (closest approach to the Earth) was January 15, at a distance of
0.82 AU.
According to reports on spaceweather.com, the comet was visible in daylight about
5° to 10° southeast of the sun from January 12 to 14, with a peak brightness of magnitude
5.5.
After passing the sun, Comet McNaught became visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It was sighted in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, at 2015-hours Australian Central Daylight
Time. In Australia, according to Siding Spring Observatory at Coonabarabran, where the comet was discovered, the comet was to have reached its theoretical peak in brightness on Sunday, 14th January, 2007 just after
sunset, when it would have been visible above the horizon for just 23 minutes following sunset as it was then only 5° from the setting sun. On the 15th January, 2007 the comet was observed at Perth Observatory with an estimated apparent magnitude of
4.0.
The above image was taken at sunset January 20, 2007 from Australia by Gordon Garradd. The full tail is shown below
