Initially dubbed as being the "comet of the century" after its discovery in September of 2012, and then almost being written off as ISON failed to brighten as predicted (no surprise there then) It now appears ISON may be worth watching for after all.

Comet ISON is making its first, and perhaps only visit to the warmth of the inner Solar System. However its orbit is similar to that of the Great Comet of 1680 (also known as Kirch's or Newton's Comet). In 1680, this comet passed extremely close to the Sun, brightening until it was plainly visible to the naked eye in daytime. This historic comet and ISON have such similar orbits that it seemed possible both comets may once have been one body which split apart in the distant past. This is no longer believed to be the case and it appears the two comets are unrelated. ISON is classed as a sun-grazing comet and is speeding up as it gets nearer the Sun (its movement is not noticeable as you watch it, but is apparent from night to night). Comet ISON will make its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, on 28 November 2013 at a distance of only 1.2 million km (about 750 000 miles) from the surface of the Sun. If the comet survives this very close encounter, which now seems more likely according to NASA, it may emerge as an easily spotted early morning object. However comets are notoriously unpredictable beasts. The truth is, no one really knows how ISON will perform when it meets up with the sun           

Assuming ISON does not fizzle out, by mid November it should be visible to binocular observers as it begins to speed through Leo and Virgo. At the end of November its proximity to the Sun will make it tricky to see. In early December the comet will be seen in the pre-dawn sky as it races through Scorpius, Ophiuchius, Serpens, Hercules and Draco, hopefully easy to spot and sporting a tail- we shall see.  As astronomers have said comet ISON 30% chance of being awesome and a 60% chance of that being wrong!