comet 103p/ Hartley will flyby earth at a distance of only 0.12 AU on 20th October. It was estimated that it would, at this time have a magnitude of about 5 and thus visible to the naked eye but viewers all around the world are reporting that it is much fainter than expected. I have not as yet tried to locate it but tonight I am hoping to do it with club's 15X70 binocs. Its present position is in the constellation of Auriga so I guess the most suitable time to watch it is at about 1.30 am in the morning when the constellation is at a comfortable height of about 45 degrees from the eastern horizon.
(photograph courtesy of stargazerslounge.com and astrospace.co.uk)
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