Check out the “Devil Comet” in the hour after sunset
Posted By RichC on April 24, 2024
An icy comet with a demonic sobriquet is now visible to the naked eye for the first time in 71 years.
Look for the “Devil Comet” in the hour after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere. The fuzzy blob can be glimpsed in the western sky, down and left from Jupiter’s bright orb. Using binoculars or a telescope will make it easier to spot.
“You’ve got a chance for the next couple of days,” said Jonti Horner, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland.
The comet is brightest in the sky this week, having just made its closest approach to the sun. With each passing day, it gets lower on the horizon and will soon disappear from view for skywatchers north of the equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, the comet should remain visible to the naked eye for another month or so.
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