COMET McNAUGHT!!

Well, this is truly exciting stuff. Comet McNaught is visible in the daylight sky without binoculars from January 13-19 for us in Oz.
Here's some info about it: the comet head measures approximately 300,000 miles in diameter,Moon aprox 2,150 miles in diameter;Sun aprox 862,400 miles in diameterThat means the head of the comet (not the nucleus) is 1/3 rd the size of the Sun!

This is not small!

Comet P1 McNaught reached brightness on January 06 magnitude -1.
The Comet is 5 mag brighter than original ephemeris predicted some weeks ago...Astronomers are predicting magnitude -7 on January 14 2007.
If this occurs this will become one of THE BRIGHTEST COMET EVER and will be observed during DAYLIGHT.
PIcture: http://www.astronomie.de/fachbereiche/kometen/c2006-p1-mcnau ght/jaeger4.jpg
In comparison:Sun -26.7 (about 400 000 times brighter than full Moon)
Full Moon -12.7
Venus (at its brightest) -4.4
Sirius (brightest star) -1.44
Limit of human eye +6 (obviously will vary with individual)
Limit of 10 x 50 binoculars +9
Pluto +14
On Jan 15, the comet is closest to the earth at a distance of 0.82AU,
Earth to Sun 1.02
Earth to Moon 0.0027

I can reproduce Steve Quirk's graphic for Sydneys latitude from Rob McNaught's page as long as he is credited - so i will then! should be suitable for most of southern oz as it says.

Here's the cut and pasted accompanying text:

' This diagram by Steve Quirk shows the WSW sky just after sunset for NSW. Venus will be an obvious bright object up to the right, but Mercury will be difficult to see except in binoculars (do not try to look for it or the comet before the Sun has fully set). The position of the comet on seven nights from Jan 13 to 19 is given. Although technically visible on the 13th, the comet sets just after the sun, so it is on the 14th and 15th before the comet is likely to be easily seen. The tail is plotted as a general indication of what might be seen. The outer parts of the tail will only be visible after the sun, and the comet's head, have set much lower below the horizon.

This diagram (and a b+w version) can be freely used in any publication if credited (c) Steve Quirk (2007). Note however the diagram is only really applicable to the southern states of Australia.'

thanks Steve!

Attached Thumbnails

Use binoculars if you want to see rather than a telescope.
Well, I looked and waited but the sky had too many whispy clouds covering it in the westerly direction. The brilliant firey red of the sun burning through the clouds was exquisite but alas, couldn't see the comet.