The astronomer who first identified this comet is Rob McNaught, from the Siding Spring Observatory near coonabarabran, near the Warrumbungle National Park. Comet McNaught is the 31st of 32 comets that Mr McNaught has found in 20 years.
And one of the roads through Coonabarabran is the Newell Highway....
NEWELL HIGHWAY John Warner (1985)
This song celebrates the Warrumbungle Ranges in inland NSW. John first heard the tune, C.H.H. Parry's melody for the hymn 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,' in his earliest childhood as a theme to a BBC radio programme, and it is adapted here from that memory.
Awake before the dawn within the spires of range Where magpies ornate melodies Engrave the chilly morning breeze Beneath the towering stone, Beneath the towering stone.
On nights of silver moon too rich to waste on sleep In silence make your way to seek The choirs of frog in swamp and creek That sing beneath the stars, That sing beneath the stars.
Out on the western plain beside the roaring road Where trucks snarl by without a care Are billabongs with ibis there And wedge-tailed eagles soar, And wedge-tailed eagles soar.
All you who love the earth And make her ways your choice Cry out against the noise of trade Demand that silence should be made So that all might hear her voice, Her ancient, matchless voice.
The second verse of this song will be especially poignant over the next couple of days as the comet is seen on the skyline near Coonabarabran..