For the first time in 2020, space enthusiasts are excited about a comet. Only this time, the comet is not breaking hearts by fading before it can be seen with the naked eye.
Comet C / 2020 F3 NEOWISE, or simply Comet NEOWISE, made its closest approach to the sun on July 3. It is a fragile time for any kite and our ability to see it. A comet’s visibility from Earth is influenced by both its proximity to Earth and its proximity to the sun, as the sun’s immense energy warms the comet and makes it brighter. This increased heat can force the icy comet to break as it was seen earlier this year with the ATLAS comet.
However, when Comet NEOWISE began to make its long walk outside our solar system, it became visible to the naked eye, surviving the intense passing of Mercury and our local star. However, as NASA points out, the comet’s proximity to the sun causes challenges for viewers.
Is Comet NEOWISE visible?
If you go out to see the comet, without visual aids and dark skies, you should be able to see the comet’s nucleus, according to NASA. If you take out the binoculars, you can see the comet and its long tail of gas and dust. Sky and telescope it estimates its current brightness to be of magnitude 1.4, making it the brightest comet since PanSTARRS (C / 2011 L4) in March 2013. Many observers have said that it is easier to find it first with binoculars and then remove them to get a good view. Comet view.
This is a wonderful sight, but it is not a great kite. If you want to take a look at NEOWISE’s beautiful split tail, you will need to use binoculars.
