As some friends and coworkers joined me to spot the elusive Comet McNaught between 4:30 and 5 p.m., we soon realized that a low cloudbank on the horizon would obscure our view and hide the comet from us. But then, amazingly, we spotted the comet streaking laterally across the sky! We got a good laugh out of it - the so-called "comet" was actually just a jet contrail, but we laughed at how many people were out watching the "comet" as it blazed over the horizon. You see, the local television stations had really hyped up the night's event, touting it as the "final night to see Comet McNaught flash across the sky." Not at all an accurate description, but I'm sure it went a long way to give people the thrill of their lives as they watched Comet McNot "flash" across the evening sky. In the end, we got skunked by the Pacific Northwest weather (as usual) and never saw the comet. But, despite freezing ears and Scott's gas, it was a good time.
