Two comets arrive in Thai skies next month | Bangkok Post: news

Two comets arrive in Thai skies next month

Two comets could potentially be sighted in some areas of Thailand between March 5-15, a period during which the heavenly bodies will be closest to the sun, a veteran stargazer said yesterday.

Worawit Tanwutthibandit, a self-taught astronomical expert who runs an observatory in Chachoengsao's Plaeng Yao district, said the two comets are called C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) and C/2012 F6 (Lemmon).

The first is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011, while the second is a long-period comet discovered on March 23, 2012. However, Mr Worawit warned that those who would like to observe the two comets would have to put in a great deal of effort and go to a highland area where the sky is expected to be very clear during sunset.