Comet flashes through Spokane’s sky at twilight

There’s a new comet very visible low in the early evening sky, but with all of the cloudy weather in recent days, it’s been impossible to see.

That may change tonight. Arctic air is expected to bring the kind of crisp clear skies that are perfect for catching views of celestial bodies, and Comet McNaught is now one of the brightest objects in the sky.

It has been widely seen in other parts of the world, and was visible west of Spokane Tuesday with an impressive tail. Check out various Web sites, including skytonight.com and spaceweather.com.

“The comet is so bright they are seeing it through the haze” in some cities, said Mary Singer, a member of the Spokane Astronomical Society.

Comet watchers need to make it quick. The best time to see it is from 4:50 to 5:15 p.m. in the west-southwest or just before dawn in the southeast. Only two more nights of potentially good viewing remain – tonight and Thursday – as the comet moves swiftly toward the sun. By Friday evening, it may be too low in the sky to see, although the tail remains visible even after the comet drops below the horizon.

To find Comet McNaught in the evening, you need to look to the right of and slightly below the planet Venus. It is very apparent even through light overcast. The comet’s path will take it inside the orbit of Mercury, around the sun, and back out into the darkness of space. Astronomers say it could become quite prominent as it moves toward the sun.