Safe trip, boys...

No-one does death like the Irish, though it was a quiet and subdued Fish who called from the airport to let me know they were about to leave on their trip to Ireland. As always, good to hear a friendly voice, even if the circumstances aren't the best.

Be good, lads, and I'll catch ya when you get back!
*smooch*

I wish I may...

Armed with my wee star chart, a fresh tank of petrol and mikeybill in the passenger seat, I headed over to Piha to gaze at the sky. The sunset was wonderful as ever, the black sand cold and grey while the sky burst into gold. Mikey and I wandered on the beach as the sky dimmed, straining to see something more than Venus or, behind us, the moon. The puffy clouds kept moving, which was good, but eventually we got cold and made excuses to go back to the car and drive up to the lookout on the cliff.

Once up there the sky was dark enough that more stars were out, and the star chart suddenly made sense. Venus, up to Fomalhaut, left to Al Na'ir, and then directly between there and the Peacock should be... is that a cloud? Or a comet? Wow, I think it really is C/2006 P1!

Mikey couldnt see it at first, and even I was having trouble holding it, but a few minutes later the sky was dark enough that the tail and comet itself were clearly visible. A nice couple lent us their binoculars, and it was quite amazing. Not as stunning as Halley in 1984, but certainly an honest-to-god comet.

What a great way to spend a night!