2013 Comet Panstarrs

Can you see a comet in this picture? 

I'm just kidding, but Last evening, I did go to poipu to see a comet Panstarrs.  According to the Sky & Telescope, it could be visible from March 7 after sunset.  The explanation was very interesting.  "Look west too early and the sky will be too bright; too late and the comet will be too low."  

According to another source, EarthSky, the comet will be at its brightest and should be visible from from U.S. latitudes on March 10. Also for taking pictures of the comet, March 12,13 and 14, will be very good time because of the appearance of the waxing crescent moon in the west.

As you may know, the comet Panstarrs was named after the prototype single-mirror telescope, called PAN-STARRS1 on Mount Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, because it was first discoverd by them in June 2011.

Until reading Pan-Starrs Project, today, I didn't realize the goal of this project, but their job is very important for us all.  They are watching the sky to discover and characterize Earth-approaching objects, both asteroids & comets, that might pose a danger to our planet.  So in a sense, I think they are potectors of our mother earth.

I wish more and more people get to know our earth, our environement and universe.  I believe the more we know the universe, the more we become grateful that we are living here and now.   Also we can get to realize that we all belong to the same Ohana (family) of Earth.  

So I want to say something to all the politicians of countries including my home counrty, Japan.   "Hey, in stead of disuputing sovereignty over the islands, why don't you look up the sky and look for the land in the universe.  There must be good resources in the universe." 

So let us look up sky in order to get rid of our narrow views. 

By the way, 2013 Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events I look forward to seeing are;

May 10 - Annular Solar Eclipse. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light around the darkened Moon. The Sun's corona is not visible during an annular eclipse. The path of the eclipse will begin in western Australia and move east across the central Pacific Ocean. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

June 23 - Super Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 11:32 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season. This moon has also been known as the Full Rose Moon and the Full Honey Moon.

August 11, 12 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak.

November 28 - Comet ISON Closest Approach to the Sun. Newly discovered comet ISON will make its closest approach to the Sun on November 28. If the comet survives its encounter with the Sun, it could be one of the brightest comets in recent memory. Some astronomers estimate that it could even be bright enough to be seen during daylight hours. In August and September, the comet will begin to be visible in the morning sky in dark locations with telescopes. In October it will start to be visible to the naked eye and will continue to get brighter until November 28. If the comet survives, it will be visible in the early morning and early evening sky and could be nearly as bright as the full Moon. Some astronomers are already calling it the comet of the century.

Recommended Site

Everything you need to know: Start watching for Comet PANSTARRS now

パンスターズ彗星について (Japanese)

http://www.nao.ac.jp/astro/sky/2013/panstarrs.html