Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock these days, you’ll know what there’s a bright comet in the sky. Most comets seem to come and go with buzz mostly from just astronomy nerds. But every so often, there’s a showstopper in the sky and despite 2020 being an absolute crapfest, it has given us C/2020 F3 aka Comet NEOWISE!
Comet NEOWISE made it’s way around our sun already and now, with all the ice and gas burning up, it’s coming back towards Earth. No, it’s not going to hit us. But it’s coming close enough to give us all a show. And what a show it’s already been! In just a few days, NEOWISE will be at it’s closest and brightest.
Okay, so what? If you’re thinking that you need a big fancy telescope to see this at some ungodly hour, you are so wrong! Not only is NEOWISE visible all night long, it’s already become bright enough to see with the naked eye! Obviously, a observing aid makes it better but so big is NEOWISE’s tail right now that astronomers are having trouble getting the whole view in their telescopes! Just grab some binoculars, a blanket, and tonnes of mosquito repelent and head just out of town for an awesome experience. After dusk, the comet can be found in the northwest skies and moves into the northeast before dawn. Admittedy, NEOWISE is a little closer to the horizon than most of us would like but as you can see from Sky & Telescope’s map above, it’s not out of view.
I had my first look at Comet 2020 F3 on July 15, 2020. I had already tried a couple of times to see it but missed either because of wrong timing or due to weather. So when weather and time worked out, I grabbed my camera and drove out to an area on the north edge of Saskatoon. (Actually, my mom drove me because I had a raging migraine.) I had no idea what I was doing and it took a little too long to find it but once I did, it was unmistakable. Here are a few of my pictures
Have you seen Comet NEOWISE yet? If not, what are you waiting for?!