Comet McNaught Over New Zealand

Comet McNaught is perhaps the most photogenic comet of our time. After making
quite a show in the northern hemisphere in mid January, the comet moved south
and developed a long and unusual dust tail that dazzled southern hemisphere
observers starting in late January. Comet McNaught was imaged two weeks ago
between Mount Remarkable and Cecil Peak in this spectacular image taken from
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand. The bright comet dominates the right
part of the above image, while the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy
dominates the left. Careful inspection of the image will reveal a meteor streak
just to the left of the comet. Comet McNaught continues to move out from the Sun
and dim, but should remain visible in southern skies with binoculars through the
end of this month.