Community Corner
Last Chance to See Comet Pan-STARRS
Unlike Haley's comet, Pan-STARRS won't return for 100,000 years.
Your last chance to see the Comet Pan-STARRS is this Sunday, March 24. And NASA says it won't return for another 100,000 years—so it's now or never.
For a little more than an hour after sundown, experts say to look for the comet to the upper right of the sunset point on the horizon.
EarthSky.org, has a Pan-STARRS viewing guide to help you find it and the best way to view it.
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To see it, look to the western horizon just after sunset, away from streetlights and other sources of light. In Los Altos, get as high up as you can. Ridgelines would be best.
The comet gets its name from who discovered it, in this case, the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, operated by the University of Hawaii on Mount Haleakala on the island of Maui.
Find out what's happening in Los Altoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In February, the comet was visible to those in the southern hemisphere. Sky and Telescope published these comments and photos from observers in Buenos Aires about their observations by naked eye, telescope and camera lens.
If you can't catch this comet, Comet ISON is expected in November.
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