Even though there is some uncertainty about just how bright the comet will be, astronomers have known since a few days after its discovery exactly where Comet Hyakutake will be on a given night. The motion of the comet during late March is shown in the accompanying diagram. The chart is for about 9 p.m. local time and shows the comet's position in the northern sky during the last week of March. At the time this column was written, binoculars were required to see it because it had not yet become an obvious object. However, with the favorable northern sky position of Comet Hyakutake in late March, we think we'll be able to get a good view of it from most anywhere we can see the northern sky.
Light pollution comes from sources of artificial light such as streetlights and shopping malls.
This light washes out the fainter stars and makes for a generally gray sky even on the clearest of nights. You need to get out of town. When observing comets, it's no so much where the comet is as where you are. You'll need to get away from city locations. Since the comet will appear in the northern sky, you will want the lights of the city to the south and behind you.