“The first reviews are in,” said Space.com. “Comet Neowise is a success.”
On July 3, Comet NEOWISE made its closest approach to the sun.
“This very close pass by the Sun is cooking the outermost layers of the comet, causing gas and dust to sprout from the icy surface and create a large tail of debris,” NASA said in an article last week. “And yet the comet has managed to survive this intense roasting.”
Since then, the comet has been visible approximately an hour before sunrise in the U.S., near the horizon in the northeast sky.
It was also seen in England, where photographer Jon Rees described the comet as a “little beauty”.
The NEOWISE viewing window is closing fast: the comet is expected to remain visible in the northern hemisphere until July.
- Before July 14, the best time to see the comet was before sunrise. But after 14, you are more likely to see the comet in the night sky.
- As it drifts away from the sun and closer to Earth, the comet will fade away, but its chance of catching it improves if it can find a place free of light pollution, i.e. streetlights, car headlights, apartment lights and I like it. .
- “Start looking around 1 hour after sunset, when you find it just above the northwest horizon as the last twilight fades into darkness,” Sky & Telescope editors said in a press release. “Look around three fists below the bottom of the Big Dipper, which hangs from its handle above it, and maybe a little to the right from there.”
- On July 23, Comet NEOWISE will be closer to Earth, but by then it will probably need binoculars or a telescope. If you want to take a photo of the comet, use a tripod and camera that are capable of taking multi-second exposure photos, according to Sky & Telescope.
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