(meteorobs) Comet Machholz

[Eric Bynum]

Dear meteorobs.org colleagues:
       In the latest meteor outlook for December, it is stated that full 
moon occurred on 12/26.    This fact is the only reason that I am aware of 
that could explain the lack of attention being given to the presence of this 
comet in the vicinity of Orion.   I recall seeing an amateur astronomer's 
photo taken from Austria showing a bluish gas tail & an orange to yellow 
dust tail emanating from the comet's head.   I believe that this photo was 
available from a link at http://www.msn.com/; unfortunately, I do not 
remember the date on which that hypertext link appeared.   Now that the moon 
is waning, perhaps Machholz will be visible in the southeastern sky at 
northern latitudes after local sunset.   (At the time that the photograph 
from Austria was taken, this phenomenon was described as being of fourth 
magnitude.)

Eric Bynum, Independence, MO, USA
Bynum_9 at hotmail.com