Seeing Comet C/2013 X1 and its Outburst in Australia

Comet P/2013 X1 (PANSTARRS) is reported to be in outburst at magnitude 8.1 or brighter (there have been reports in the high 7′s but I haven’t seen them directly). This makes the comet potentially visible in binoculars, and rather obvious in telescopes.

Unfortunately for Australians the comet is currently in the Great Square of Pegasus, forming a triangle with Gamma and Chi Pegasi. This means that it is very low to the horizon, and can only be seen for a short time after astronomical twilight in the evening before it becomes too low.

Black and white printable map suitable for use with binoculars or a telescope. The stars Gamma nd Chi Pegasi (indicated on the chart above) are shown for orientation. The large circle is the filed of view of 10×50 binoculars, ad the small circle the FOV of a 24 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian reflector. Click to embiggen and print. 

Southern Australia has the worst view, with the comet only 10 degrees or a little bit more above the horizon, where horizon murk will make it harder to see.

Northern Australia has the best views with the comet 20 degrees above the north-west horizon at the latitude of Brisbane at astronomical twilight, and 41 degrees above the north-west horizon at the latitude of Darwin at astronomical twilight.
 

My image of C/2013 X1 taken with the iTelescope remote scope T20 in New Mexico on the 4th.