ज्योतिषे विश्वासटिप्पन्यः

Source: here.

Comet Machholz 2004

We finally saw comet Machholz 2004 today with my 20X75 binoculars. It shone as fuzz ball in the southern sky, in the constellation of Eridanus (The southern river; the celestial yamunA of the Hindus which leads to the path of death). It was a little above the level of Sirius, the head of shabala praised at the morning shuna shairya offering of the pa~nchavimsha brAhmaNa. I estimate its magnitude as around 4.5 and was able to perceive a slight tail with the binoculars. It is supposed to rise higher beyond Orion. I uttered the incantation of the dogs.

Marc took the above photo.