Comet McNaught, also known as the Great Comet of 2007 and given the designation C/2006 P1, 
is a non-periodic comet discovered on August 7, 2006 by British-Australian astronomer 
Robert H. McNaught. It was the brightest comet in over 40 years, and was easily visible 
to the naked eye for observers in the Southern Hemisphere in January and February 2007.

With an estimated peak magnitude of -6.0, the comet was the second brightest since 1935. 
Around perihelion on January 12, it was visible worldwide in broad daylight. Its tail 
measured an estimated 35 degrees in length at its peak.

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Comet McNaught, the Great Comet of 2007, has grown a long and filamentary tail. The 
spectacular tail spreads across the sky and is visible to Southern Hemisphere observers 
just after sunset. The head of the comet remains quite bright and easily visible to even 
city observers without any optical aide. The amazing tail is visible on long exposures 
and even to the unaided eye from a dark location. Reports even have the tail visible just 
above the horizon after sunset for many northern observers as well. Comet McNaught, 
estimated at magnitude -2 (minus two), was caught by the comet's discoverer in this image 
just after sunset last Friday from Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Comet McNaught, 
the brightest comet in decades, is now fading as it moves further into southern skies and 
away from the Sun and Earth.