(meteorobs) when should one look for NEAT? subsequent meteors?

[Skywayinc at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/2/04 11:18:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
bynum_9 at hotmail.com writes:

<<  The Weather Channel announced on satellite TV early this morning that 
 comet NEAT should be visible (weather permitting) sometime today in at least 
 the Eastern Daylight time zone of the U. S.   Binoculars are recommended; 
 someone may have posted the optimum comet viewing time previously, but I 
 have since deleted that message.  Also, will this astronomical phenomenon 
 result in meteors &/or meteorites during a future specific time window?  
 Thank you for your attention. >>

Eric -- 

The comet is visible throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and is not confined 
solely to the Eastern time zone of the US.  

But actually, the time to look for Comet NEAT was about 2-3 weeks ago, when 
it was shining near its peak brightness (+3) and also passing closely (on May 
15) to the famous Beehive Star Cluster.  The comet has since faded to about 
magnitude 5.5, meaning that most laypersons and astronomy neophytes perpetually 
enveloped in light-polluted skies will have little or no success in finding it.

Somebody should also tell The Weather Channel that having a Full (or nearly 
full) Moon in the sky tonight and tomorrow wont help matters any either.

The orbit of this comet does not pass close to or intersect the Earth's 
orbit, so no meteor display is expected from it either.

-- joe rao