Heads Up! Comet's 252P/LINEAR Coma Expanding Rapidly as it Approaches Earth - Possible Meteor Outburst Astronomers say

Heads Up! Comet’s 252P/LINEAR Coma Expanding Rapidly as it Approaches Earth. The comet might produce meteors  according to some astronomers sometime between March 28-30.

COMET BRIGHTENS AS IT APPROACHES EARTH: On March 21st, Comet 252P/LINEAR will make a close approach to Earth–only 0.036 AU (5.4 million km) away. This is the fifth closest cometary approach on record and, as a result, the normally dim comet could become an easy target for backyard telescopes. In fact, it is brightening much faster than expected: data. “Comet 252P/LINEAR has surpassed expectations and is now bordering on naked eye visibility for southern observers.

“Since March 7th, the comet has brightened about 0.5 magnitudes per day,” continues Mattiazzo, “and now it is near 6th magnitude. The comet’s atmosphere (coma) is expanding rapidly, too, from 10 arcminutes on March 7th to 35 arcminutes on March 14th. It may reach 1o across by March 21st.”

This is a southern hemisphere event. At closest approach on March 21st, the brightening comet will speed through the constellations Triangulum Australis and Apus. 

 In remote places with very dark skies, it is possible that no telescope will be required; naked eyes might suffice.
http://spaceweather.com/
http://earthsky.org/space/twin-comets-approach-closely-in-march

Observers south of the equator can use this ephemeris to point their telescopes. http://cgi.minorplanetcenter.net/cgi-bin/returnprepeph.cgi?d=c&o=0252P

Clips credit: ESO, ESA/HUBBLE & NASA

Image credit: GETTY