Braving the cold air this week have been astronomers who have enjoyed some great sights in the night sky including the Comet Lovejoy.

On Saturday evening, pointing a pair of binoculars in the direction of the Pleadies (seven sisters), and downward, it was possible to get the rare visitor as it zooms by the planet Earth.

‘News’ Reporter Calum Corral, who writes an astronomy column for our free publication, the Largs and Millport Advertiser, was suitably impressed.

He said: “I spotted Comet Lovejoy in Fairlie on a beautiful clear sky on Saturday evening. It’s a kind of green misty blob through binoculars - it looked like a strange small funnel. The comet is around 43 million miles from Earth and is thought to be travelling at around 15 miles a second.

“There have been some excellent sights in the sky including the twinkling Sirius in the south east, the nearest star we can see, apart from our own sun, at eight light years away.

Jupiter is also shining bright in the east. If you have binoculars and keep your hand steady, you can just about see Jupiter’s moons. The Orion Nebula - churning out baby stars - can also be seen high to the southern sky. Venus is also rising in the west just after tea-time.” A planned stargazing night at Castle Semple in Lochwinnoch last Friday had to be cancelled due to snow. However, Coats Observatory in 49 Oakshaw Street West, Paisley, is open every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6.30pm-9pm including free access to telescopes. For more details, phone 0300 300 1210.