Comet McNaught (lower centre) over Siding Spring Observatory buildings, Australia. The dome of the Anglo-Australian Telescope is at lower left. This comet, also known as C/2006 P1, was the brightest to appear in the sky since Ikeya-Seki in 1965. It was discovered on 7th August 2006 by Rob McNaught, using the Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope (not seen) at Siding Spring. The comet attained a maximum brightness of magnitude -6 around 14th January. The tail is formed of particles of ice and dust expelled by the comet as it was heated by the Sun. The tall shrubs silhouetted at right are grass trees (Xanthorea glauca). Photographed at 18:12 GMT on 30th January 2007.