Heavenly visitor

Bob Linderholm/Lime Creek Observatory

Astronomer Bob Linderholm of Cambridge is keeping an eye on passing Comet Machholz, discovered only in August 2004 and now about 34 million miles from earth. "This image shows a very faint 'tail' (upper left) due to solar winds blowing residue off the comet, which consists of ice and rocks," he said. The tail should become more prominent in January as it gets closer to the Sun.Comet Machholz can be seen with binoculars, by going out about 9 p.m. and looking up about 50 degrees. "As with all comets, estimates of potential brightness are amazingly unpredictable, but this one might be viewable with even the naked eye as it gets closest to the earth, about Jan. 5," Linderholm said. The image covers about a half-degree of sky, about the width of the moon, a very small portion of the sky, he added. If you miss Machholz this time, it will be back again in 12,000 years. "Plenty of time for coffee," he said.