Comet C/ 2006 P1 McNaught

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?sstr=C%2F2006+P1+&group=all&search=SearchDescription:Comet C/2006 P1 McNaught?
THE GREAT SOUTHERN BINOCULAR COMET OF 2007
Closest to Sun: 2007 Jan 12 at 0.17AUClosest to Earth: 2007 Jan 15 at 0.82AUPeak brightness: magnitude 0? on January 12, 2007.Robert McNaught, a professional astronomer conducting the Siding Spring survey (near Coonabarabran NSW) reported his discovery of a new comet on Aug 7, 2006. This was Robert’s 31st find. The magnitude 17 comet was then situated 3 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. This distance rapidly reduces to 0.17AU from the Sun on January 12, 2007 where the comet is at perihelion, lying within the orbit of Mercury, and appearing at its brightest.Unfortunately, C/2006 P1 is then too close to the Sun for visual observation as it has been since late November 2006. The brightness behaviour of the comet between December to January may not be known until it arrives in the field of view of the orbiting SOHO C3 coronagraph on January 12. The C3 coronagraph has a 16-degree field of view with the Sun located in the centre. It can therefore observe comets that are within 8 degrees elongation from the Sun. During this time, you may be able to download real-time images from the Internet at: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/realtime_query[shades of Comet V1 http://www.cyberspaceorbit.com/indexback67.html] On Jan 12 at 10:00 UT the comet appears at 11 o'clock position. On Jan 14 at 15:55 UT, the comet is 40' East of Mercury (magnitude -1 for comparison). On Jan 15 at 16:00 UT, the comet disappears at 7 o'clock position.Should the comet appear brighter than Mercury during this time, it is expected to put on a good naked eye showing during late January for Southern Hemisphere observers, as it moves rapidly southwards after perihelion. Should it appear significantly fainter than Mercury, then prospects for a good show drop dramatically!On Jan 15, the comet is closest to the earth at a distance of 0.82AU but it is still only 7 degrees away from the Sun. After sunset however, observers should attempt to view the comets gas (ion) tail as it appears perpendicular to the horizon and, if sufficiently long enough, may be glimpsed from a dark sky site through binoculars!High-end digital cameras are more sensitive to faint light, and attempts to photograph the ion tail are encouraged.By the evening of January 18, the comet has moved sufficiently away from the Sun (15 degrees elongation) and appears very low in the western evening sky after sunset in the constellation of Microscopium. It could appear as bright as magnitude 2. The comet fades rapidly after this but its elongation from the Sun increases as it heads further southward.On January 24, the comet moves into Indus but is still only 27 degrees away from the Sun and a mere 5 degrees above the horizon at the end of astronomical twilight from 35S latitude. The furter south you are the better. It may then have faded to magnitude 4. Unfortunately, moonlight begins to interfere with dark sky viewing until after the full moon of Feb 2, when the comet is then likely to have fallen below naked eye visibility.Comet McNaught appears to be a first time visitor to the inner solar system and could potentially not survive its brush with the Sun. I would also encourage the use of a pair of 7x50 mm binoculars or teelscope to view the comet.
Photos: http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2006P1/pictures.html