LOS ANGELES, CA – Comet Neowise is circling the planet and Wednesday marked the best opportunity to see it in the skies over Los Angeles. Neowise is the brightest comet in nearly a quarter century, and it got closer to Earth on Wednesday night.
Comet Neowise has been visible in the east-northeast sky with the naked eye just before sunrise, but now the comet is in primetime. This week, it is visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset just over the horizon.
According to NASA, it will appear to be approaching the northwest sky about an hour after sunset, below the Big Dipper.
The best dates to watch it now are through Sunday, according to Space.com.
Comet Neowise has been a huge hit with sky watchers, but “the best is yet to come,” veteran comet watcher Terry Lovejoy told Space.com.
Although you can see it without a small telescope or binoculars, if the weather permits, those instruments offer better views. The seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service requires mostly clear or clear nights.
Sky & Telescope says Comet Neowise will appear just as the last twilight fades into darkness. The Big Dipper hangs from its handle right now, so look around at three fists under the “bowl”.
Its closest approach to Earth occurs on July 22, after which it will fade more quickly and eventually disappear from our universe.
The comet has been lit 100 times since June 9 and is only getting better, especially for those with an aversion to early mornings.
The comet appears to rise first, followed by its glowing head or coma, which Space.com said shines “as bright as a first-magnitude star,” a designation reserved for the brightest stars. For comparison purposes, Polaris, the North Star, is a second magnitude star.
Comet Neowise appears low on the horizon. Relatively new to the time continuum, Comet Neowise has not appeared in our universe in 6,800 years.
NASA says the comet is an “intruder” of the inner solar system that could be known as the Great Comet of 2020. It is large by comet standards, measuring approximately 3 miles wide.
The comet is the brightest visible on Earth since the Hale-Bopp comet appeared in 1997.
