This page was last amended on 31st March, 2012.

Comets in April 2012.

The comet Garradd (named after the Australian astronomer that discovered it) will hopefully still be visible this month.  However binoculars or a small telescope are required with objective lenses of 25 mm or more, as the comet's brightness is expected to vary from magnitude +7.8 at the beginning of the month to +8.6 at the end.  It will still be visible in the constellation Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear (or even The Plough) at the beginning of the month, moving into the constellation Lynx by the end.  But take every opportunity to see Garradd this month as during May it will move through the constellation Cancer (the crab), and generally will impossible to see.