Comet McNaught

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Comet McNaught

[Public Domain] 1 Feb 2007 Dylan O'Donnell
CATEGORY : Astrophotography, Notable
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To see a comet in your lifetime is a lucky thing indeed. So see one night after night, with such a magnificent tail is just brilliant. No nation can lay claim to a comet, but its tempting for me to call it ‘The Aussie Comet’ not only as it was discovered by an Australian, in an Australian observatory but that as the comet approached the northern hemisphere got the first views. When the southern hemisphere’s turn came around however, that view became spectacular. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand photographers had a field day. As earth rotates around the sun, the comet’s icy wake begins to refact the recently-set sunlight down to earth. The curved appearance of the tail is a ”rainbow” type effect. In a classic example of the awesome nature of the universe, I watched in humble awe at the 30 million kilometer long ice trail extending into space.

UPDATE – Published in the Border Mail Jan 23rd, 2007, Page 2.

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