COLFAX, Calif., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. amateur astronomer has discovered a new comet that should become visible this winter, Space.com reported Friday.
Donald Machholz of Colfax, Calif., an optician who previously had discovered nine comets, found the new object on Aug. 27.
Although current indications are the comet, called c/2004 Q2, should be visible with binoculars and small telescopes -- and perhaps even with the naked eye -- astronomers said comet brightness is difficult to predict, so its visibility is uncertain.
When Machholz first picked up the comet, using a telescope he had purchased in 1968, it was a fuzzy object drifting slowly to the southeast. Several hours later, observers Gordon Garradd and Robert McNaught confirmed the discovery and photographed the comet using telescopes at Australia's Siding Spring Mountain. Their images showed the comet already is displaying a faint tail.
The new comet is moving toward the sun and will be in Earth's vicinity during October and November, and it is predicted to come closest to Earth on the night of Jan. 5-6, 2005, when it will be about 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) away.
