(no subject)

[stellar_muddle]

APOD has a quite cool image of a current bright comet: Comet McNaught. Supposed to be near the horizon near dusk and dawn - currently in Aquila, moving out from behind the Sun. Not certain if is viewible from the southern hemisphere currently, though it was discovered by an Aussie at Siding Springs. From the above site:

How bright will this comet become? A couple of months ago, discussions of this topic seemed a moot point as several respected amateur and professional astronomers considered the possibility that the comet would breakup around perihelion; however, the comet's recovery in twilight at the end of December seems to have raised hopes. Granted the comet will not be seen outside of twilight, but some of the estimates of what the comet's maximum brightness will be on January 12 and 13 indicate it might be a fairly easy object to see in evening twilight. Right now, it seems the maximum magnitude might reach -1.5 to -8.7. If the latter is true, the comet would be visible in broad daylight!

Fingers crossed it may be viewable. Need a fairly flat horizon with very minimal light pollution or to be quite high up.
Edit: Unfortunately from checking http://www.heavens-above.com/, looks like it will have the Sun chasing it down (at least this far north and west). It has obviously been too long since I have been observing, cause I can't work out the siderial time details and whether being further east will help. Unfortunately, I suspect not...