posted on Mar, 12 2013 @ 06:52 PM
reply to post by RobertDurrant
Welcome to ATS Robert.
Your latitude should not be a major factor. Between you and the South coast of mainland UK there would be around 4-5 degrees difference in height
above the horizon, so it would only be a tiny bit more difficult to spot Panstarrs because of this, but you should still be able to if you are looking
out to sea and have a clear horizon.
However, it's not that easy to see simply because the sky is still quite bright in that direction, and Panstarrs is relatively dim.
It would probably be best to try and find it using a good pair of binoculars (10x50 if you have a pair), and carefully scan that part of the sky. Do
you have Stelarium installed? If not, install it (see my post above), check when Panstarrs is 10 degrees above the horizon for your location. Note
that time down. Then when you go out to look for it, use your outstretched fist (vertical orientation) to measure 10 degrees above the horizon. Then
scan along at that height and you should find it. Better yet, if you have a laptop - take it with you when you go out.
I observed it earlier on today, and it was virtually impossible to spot with the naked eye. I could only just see the Moon at first, and it was
significantly brighter than Panstarrs was at the time. It was easy to see once it got to around 5 degrees, which is when it disappeared behind a cloud
bank in the distance, and just before I spotted Panstarrs!
Anyway, hope you manage to catch it. Good luck!
PS. Nice location you are in there!
edit on 12-3-2013 by FireballStorm because: (no reason given)