2013: Year of the Comets

Comets are typically too far from the earth to be seen by the naked eye, or too far from the sun to develop a long, stunning tail, however in 2013 we may be graced with the chance to see two different comets, if the conditions hold up. They will be the brightest comets we've seen in years, with one having a possibility of being the brightest comet in history (seen by the naked eye). 

The sun's role is the most important when it comes to any comet. The heat radiated from the sun causes the ice on the comet to vaporize, and the solar wind coming from the sun develops this vapor into a tail. The tail will always face away from the sun, no matter what direction the comet is going.

The first of the two comets is called "Comet C/2011 L4", and will be visible at first in the southern hemisphere in early February, before moving closer to the sun and becoming visible to people in the Northern Hemisphere on March 10th, when it will be its brightest. The comet will still be visible well into April afterwards.

The second comet is called Comet C/2012 S1 and has potential to be the brightest comet we've ever seen. In both hemispheres, the comet will become visible to onlookers in November, before becoming a "sun-grazer" (a comet that passes very close to the sun) on November 28th. The comet will actually be passing closer than the orbit of Mercury to the sun, and if it survives its journey, it can become brighter than the full moon at night, and even be visible during the day. The comet should be visible until January 2014 afterwards.
 
Although there is no guarantee that any of this will happen due to the unpredictability of comets, I really do hope this prediction holds true. Aside from a few shooting stars (if they even count), I have never seen a comet before and the fact that it could be the brightest one humans have ever seen intrigues me more. Just being around for an event that may not be duplicated again for as long as humans are around sounds kinda special.