Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsComet NEOWISE Could Be Spectacular: Here's How to See It
Scientific AmericanThis month a cosmic visitor is gracing the skies. A comet swept past the sun on July 3, and it has since become visible to the naked eye. The rare opportunity to glimpse the chunk of ancient ice from the outer solar system should continue next week, when astronomers hope it will become even brighter.
Scientists using the Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) space telescope first spotted the comet as it hurtled toward the sun on March 27. Informally dubbed NEOWISE after the telescope but officially labeled C/2020 F3, the comet gradually brightened as sunlight and solar wind caused it to release gases and form a tail. In early June it reached the far side of the sun, as seen from Earth. The resulting glare prevented astronomers from observing the comet for several weeks. By late June, however, it swam back into the optics of another space telescope, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Its fate was still unclear, however: Would Comet NEOWISE brighten or fade?
On July 3 observers watched closely as the comet began the most perilous part of its journey: its nearest approach to the sun, which brought it within 44 million kilometers of our star. The intense light and heat from such close proximity tends to make comets disintegrate and disappear from the night sky. Earlier this year, such breakups befell two other comets, ATLAS and SWAN, that astronomers had hoped would light up Earths skies. But NEOWISE survived and emerged brighter than before to dazzle stargazersprovided they know where to look. Now, for the next few days at least, residents of the Northern Hemisphere can greet the passing visitor at dawn.
For many people in the Northern Hemisphere, especially if youre closer to the midlatitudes, [the comet] should be visible an hour before sunrise, very low in the northeastern sky, says Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, a meteorologist and astrophotographer who captured an image of Comet NEOWISE over Toronto. Right now its located in the constellation Auriga. She recommends finding the comets exact spot using specialized smartphone apps with interactive maps of the constellations. Although already visible to the naked eye, the object is still faint, and binoculars would offer a better view.
Scientists using the Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) space telescope first spotted the comet as it hurtled toward the sun on March 27. Informally dubbed NEOWISE after the telescope but officially labeled C/2020 F3, the comet gradually brightened as sunlight and solar wind caused it to release gases and form a tail. In early June it reached the far side of the sun, as seen from Earth. The resulting glare prevented astronomers from observing the comet for several weeks. By late June, however, it swam back into the optics of another space telescope, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Its fate was still unclear, however: Would Comet NEOWISE brighten or fade?
On July 3 observers watched closely as the comet began the most perilous part of its journey: its nearest approach to the sun, which brought it within 44 million kilometers of our star. The intense light and heat from such close proximity tends to make comets disintegrate and disappear from the night sky. Earlier this year, such breakups befell two other comets, ATLAS and SWAN, that astronomers had hoped would light up Earths skies. But NEOWISE survived and emerged brighter than before to dazzle stargazersprovided they know where to look. Now, for the next few days at least, residents of the Northern Hemisphere can greet the passing visitor at dawn.
For many people in the Northern Hemisphere, especially if youre closer to the midlatitudes, [the comet] should be visible an hour before sunrise, very low in the northeastern sky, says Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, a meteorologist and astrophotographer who captured an image of Comet NEOWISE over Toronto. Right now its located in the constellation Auriga. She recommends finding the comets exact spot using specialized smartphone apps with interactive maps of the constellations. Although already visible to the naked eye, the object is still faint, and binoculars would offer a better view.
Expected to be visible late tonight
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
12 replies, 1431 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (23)
ReplyReply to this post
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Comet NEOWISE Could Be Spectacular: Here's How to See It (Original Post)
brooklynite
Jul 2020
OP
Champp
(2,114 posts)1. Comets are said to herald the demise of a king*
* includes malignant, wannabe Republican draft-dodging, freeloading golfer FauxKings.
Jirel
(2,018 posts)9. He'll hate that narrative.
Itd be a shame to spread it.
calimary
(81,322 posts)2. Cool!!!
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,503 posts)3. Comet Neowise this morning at the Tidal Basin. #cometNEOWISE
Comet Neowise this morning at the Tidal Basin. #cometNEOWISE
Link to tweet
I do not have an unobstructed view to the northeast. I was out at the same time, in Alexandria, Virginia. It was cloudy. I got a good look at Venus, but I could not find NEOWISE. There were too many trees in the way.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)4. Late tonight? How late
Would like to see it
aikoaiko
(34,172 posts)8. The article suggests just before sunrise.
Ugh.
I might take my kid to the beach to see it and then take an ocean swim before the crowds show up.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)10. Ugh is right
But I love comets.
Saw Hailey's comet when I was a kid after that I was hooked.
Champp
(2,114 posts)12. Shortly the comet will become visible in the sky after sunset
They say. No doubt there will be a mediagasm when that happens.
IADEMO2004
(5,555 posts)11. 3:30 am. in Iowa this morning until dawn
TheBlackAdder
(28,209 posts)5. K&R for Awesomeness!
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)6. If you miss it it will return in 4000 years or so! nt
cwydro
(51,308 posts)7. Very cool! Thanks for this!
I'll try to look.
And make a wish.