Astronomers and amateur skywatchers alike anticipate the passing of the green-colored Comet LINEAR, which can be seen in the sky over the Northern Hemisphere in the final few days of March.
People living in the Southern Hemisphere were able to catch a glimpse of LINEAR in dark areas of the sky over the past few weeks even without the use of any optical aids.
The comet has become 100 times brighter than expected, which could make it more visible to those in the Northern Hemisphere even though the Moon could flood the sky with its own light. Observers can use binoculars to view the comet as it streaks across the sky.
Kelly Beatty, senior editor of the space magazine Sky & Telescope, explained that Comet LINEAR may not appear quite as obvious as typical depictions of comets that have long tails.
She said that the light of this particular comet is not concentrated in one point, but rather it is spread out. This gives it a soft, round glow that is larger than that of the Moon though several times dimmer.
The green haze typically seen surrounding LINEAR is believed to be produced when light from the sun comes into contact with the comet's diatomic carbon atoms.
Those who are planning to see Comet LINEAR during its transit near Earth can catch it near the vicinity of the Sagittarius and Scorpius constellations.
For residents of countries in the Northern Hemisphere, Sagittarius and Scorpius can be found in the southern portion of the sky and are most visible just before dawn.
Skywatchers are also advised to choose a location away from street lamps and other sources of light pollution that could get in the way of seeing Comet LINEAR's passing. It is also advisable to be at the designated viewing spot at least one and a half hours before sunrise in order to have the best view of the comet.
Sky & Telescope has created a sky chart that people can use to determine the region of the sky where they can see Comet LINEAR.
Mars, Saturn and the bright star Antares can also be found near LINEAR's location. The comet will be closest to the two planets on the morning of March 29 and closest to Antares and Saturn on March 31.
