By Rod Hill on 2020-07-15
UPDATE: July 15, 2020
Comet NEOWISE (2020 F3) is putting on an impressive showing in the pre-dawn northern sky after reaching perihelion or its closest point to the Sun on July 3. The comet passed 0.29 astronomical unit or 26,957,184 million miles from the Sun. It was discovered by NASA’s Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft on March 27.
According to NASA, the comet has a very large nucleus. Researchers working with NASA’s NEOWISE spacecraft have analysed infra-red emissions of the comet’s core, taken from the spacecraft, and by combining this with visible-light images has revealed that the nucleus is about three miles across and covered with dark particles left over from its formation near the time of the origins of our Solar System some 4.6 billion years ago. JPL:https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7697
The flood of images show a healthy-looking comet displaying an impressive fan-shaped tail. Its main dust tail extends to around six degrees in length as seen in the best images and its also sprouted a an ion tail.
https://spaceweathergallery.com/index.php?title=neowise
After July 14, as Comet NEOWISE heads out, it will likely no longer be visible by eye, but best viewed with binoculars. About 1 hour after sunset, when you will find it just above the northwestern horizon as the twilight fades into darkness. Look for the comet near the bowl of the Big Dipper, which is hanging down by its handle above, and from there perhaps to its west.
Each evening thereafter the comet will be getting dimmer at magnitude of +2 to +3, but it will also be getting higher above the horizon. On July 23rd, when Comet NEOWISE is its closest to Earth, will certainly need binoculars or a telescope as it is predicted to be at magnitude +3 to +4 (brightest of the stars of Ursa Minor). Comets are generally unpredictable.
(the above courtesy of Jim Todd - Space Science Director OMSI)
LUNAR ECLIPSE - JULY 4TH