Opportunities like this come once every 120,000 years.
Comet Macholz, discovered in August by California amateur astronomer Don Macholz with a set of 6-inch binoculars, is visible through all of January as it makes its way past the Earth. Macholz observed the comet near the Pleiades.
Haley's comet, by comparison, is visible every 74 to 76 years.
"Macholz is a typical comet and it's what you call a long-period comet," said Robert Collier from the Davis Observatory at Western Nevada Community College. "From what I've read, it appears about every 120,000 years."
And because it's also what you call a very long time until the opportunity arrives again, telescopes will be set up at the observatory for viewing Saturday beginning at dusk and continuing until about 10:30 p.m.
"Yes, you will be able to see the comet's tail," Collier said. "It's not going to be real pronounced because it's a real dim comet. If the sky cooperates and we have a good dark sky behind it, the contrast will bring out the tail."
Collier said the comet will be most visible on Friday in the western sky.
"It will still be ideal to look at with binocular or with a small telescope. It's been getting closer and with a really good dark sky, the magnitude, which relates to the brightness, means you could probably see it with the naked eye. It would be much better to see it with a pair of binoculars or a telescope."
The observatory is at the top of Van Patten Drive. To get there, take West College Parkway until North Ormsby Boulevard. Take a right and then turn left on Combs Canyon Road. Take a left on Murphy Drive and then a right on to Van Patten. The observatory is at the top.
For more information, call Collier at 445-4412.
The observatory will be opened weather permitting. For information about the comet, see antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap05010105.html.
The observatory is open every Saturday to the public and Collier said the comet will be visible through future dates there, but will not be as bright.
Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
IF YOU GO
What: See Comet Macholz
When: Dusk until 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Jack C. Davis Observatory
Get there: Take West College Parkway until North Ormsby Boulevard. Take a right and then turn left on Combs Canyon Road. Take a left on Murphy Drive and then a right on to Van Patten.
Call: Professor Robert Collier at 445-4412.
ON THE NET
Information about Comet Macholz:
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap05010105.html