Comet NEOWISE, a Once in a Lifetime Experience

Hi everyone!

Have you seen comet NEOWISE recently? If not, it isn’t too late! Pack your camera (or phone) head to a place where the sky is clear and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Image Credit: Sandesh Malla

Comet NEOWISE came closest to the sun on July 3, 2020, and was about 43 million kilometres from the sun. It was closest to the Earth on July 23, 2020. After that day, it will become dimmer and eventually disappear and won’t return for another 6,800 years. Comets are space snowballs made of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit around the sun. NEOWISE is a short form for Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Space Explorer, a space-based telescope that first spotted the comet. 

The best way to find Comet NEOWISE is to start looking for it an hour after sunset, above the northwest horizon. It is below the big dipper and a bit towards the right. 

I went to see Comet NEOWISE about a week ago at Crescent Beach, just around 10 pm. It was a bit dim seeing it with my naked eye, looking at it through a camera made it easier to see. It was such an amazing experience seeing the movements of the sky in the dark.

Don’t miss this lifetime opportunity!