[BAA-ebulletin 00731] Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) is now visible in the northern hemisphere

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) is now setting after the Sun as seen from UK 
latitudes. It has put on a good show in the southern hemisphere and, 
although its brightness has been difficult to estimate in a bright sky, 
it may have reached zero magnitude. It certainly has a nice tail as can 
be seen in this image taken from Perth, Australia:

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/6455983989/photos/2452791/comet-panstarrs

The comet has been moving north and it has already been seen from Gran 
Canaria as shown in this image taken in bright twilight yesterday evening:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/398958_10151474413814730_1368337692_n.jpg

Over the next few evenings the comet will move further from the Sun and 
it should become easier to see as it is will be higher up as the sky 
darkens. If you do get clear weather it will be worth scanning the 
western horizon shortly after sunset to get a glimpse of this 
interesting object. DSLR users can take multiple short exposures and 
stack them to bring the comet out from the bright background.

For the remainder of March and April the comet will continue to move 
higher and fade. The Moon will also start to becomes a problem from next 
weekend. A graphic showing the path of the comet in the evening sky was 
in the February Journal and it is available online here:

http://britastro.org/journal/pdf/123-1panstarrs.pdf

Best of luck with your attempts. Please send any observations to the 
Comet Section at cometobs at britastro.org.

We hope to discuss this comet and comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) at the Comet 
Section meeting which will be held in Northampton on May 18. Full 
details are here:

http://www.britastro.org/cometmeeting2013

Nick James. Comet Section.