Comet Pan-STARRS of 2013: Photos and Sky Maps for Stargazers

Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon Over Salem, Missouri

Astrophotographer Joe Shuster sent in a photo of Comet Pan-STARRS and the crescent moon taken in Salem, Missouri, March 12, 2013.

Comet Pan-STARRS Over Buford, GA

Astrophotographer Bill Carlson sent in a photo of Comet Pan-STARRS and the moon over Buford, Georgia, taken on March 13, 2013.

Comet Pan-STARRS Over Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Astrophotographer Randy Paylor sent in a photo of Comet Pan-STARRS. He writes: "Taken on the campus of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, March 11th [2013], with the school's Memorial Tower clock in the foreground. It was shot across a big open quad to get the tower in the distance and near the horizon."

Moon, Comet Pan-STARRS and Church in Rio Rancho, NM

Astrophotographer Josh Knutson sent in a photo of the crescent moon and Comet Pan-STARRS setting, with a church in the foreground. Photo taken northwest of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Image submitted March 12, 2013.

Moon and Comet Pan-STARRS Over Rio Rancho, NM

Astrophotographer Josh Knutson sent in a photo of the crescent new moon and Comet Pan-STARRS taken northwest of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. A church stands in the foreground of this picture. Image submitted March 12, 2013. [Full Story: Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon Wow Stargazers]

Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon Over the Hill Country of Texas

Astrophotographer James Zeman sent in a photo of Comet Pan-STARRS and the moon in the Hill Country of Texas near Dripping Springs. He writes: "The comet was barely visible with the naked eye, and there was considerable haze on the horizon." Image submitted March 13, 2013.

Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon

Dr. Dale P. Cruikshank of NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., took this photo of Comet Pan-STARRS on March 12, 2013.

Comet Pan-STARRS and Moon Over Woodside, CA

Astrophotographer Steven Loy sent in this photo of comet Pan-STARRS and the moon taken from Windy Hill on Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd.) above Woodside, CA, on March 12, 2013.

Comets Lemmon and Pan-STARRS Over Paranal Observatory

A sunset view of the Paranal Observatory in Chile taken March 5, 2013, shows two comets. Close to the horizon, on the right-hand side of the image, is Comet C/2011 L4 (Pan-STARRS). In the center of the image, just above the right-hand slopes of Cerro Paranal, is Comet C/2012 F6 (Lemmon).

Comet Pan-STARRS Over San Diego

Astrophotographer Douglas S. Brown sent in a photo of Comet Pan-STARRS taken on March 13, 2013, from Mt. Woodson, just east of San Diego, shooting over the Pacific.