Video: We discuss the newly discovered comet with Michelle Nichols, an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, on “Chicago Tonight.” (Produced by Paul Caine)
Between stunning supermoons and amazing planetary conjunctions, it feels like outer space has been working overtime lately to distract us Earthlings from the dumpster fire that is 2020.
All of those stellar shows were just a warmup act for Comet NEOWISE, streaking across July’s skies in a blaze of glory.
The 3-mile-wide comet was only just discovered in March, and it’s easy to see how that news got lost in the coronavirus shuffle.
“In its discovery images, Comet NEOWISE appeared as a glowing, fuzzy dot moving across the sky even when it was still pretty far away,” said Amy Mainzer, NEOWISE principal investigator at the University of Arizona. “As soon as we saw how close it would come to the Sun, we had hopes that it would put on a good show.”
Labeled a “binocular event,” especially if you want to see the comet’s split tail, NEOWISE has been dazzling early risers in the pre-dawn hours since the beginning of July. As the comet now speeds away from the sun, it will begin to appear in the evening sky shortly after sunset, according to NASA.
People in northern latitudes in the U.S. and Canada should be able to catch a glimpse of NEOWISE both before sunrise and after sunset. NEOWISE will swing closest to Earth July 22-23. For viewing tips, click here.
NASA describes comets as “cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit the Sun. When a comet’s orbit brings it close to the Sun, it heats up and spews dust and gases into a giant glowing head larger than most planets.”
In pretty much any other context, gaseous emissions are to be avoided, but seek out NEOWISE while you can. It will pass out of view in August and then won’t be seen again for another 6,800 years.
Around the globe (and beyond), everyone from astronomers to astronauts, photographers to just plain folks have been amazed and enchanted by the celestial marvel. Images posted to social media show the fireball lighting up the skies over castles in England, lavender fields in Spain, the Pantheon in Paris, and right here in Chicago.
Thanks, space, we needed that.
Comet Neowise near Sears Tower on Sunday night in Chicago. Click photo to see whole image. #news #chicago #ilwx #space #comet #neowise #weather pic.twitter.com/spUWJeQOfC
— Barry Butler (@barrybutler9) July 13, 2020
Comet NEOWISE rises with the dawn, viewed from ISS.
Here it is in real time / 4k https://t.co/0BY3K54SqR pic.twitter.com/OEna1BlIMy— Seán Doran (@_TheSeaning) July 12, 2020
Primera #fotografía del #cometa #Neowise que @alfaaurigae y yo pudimos tomar el sábado el pasado sábado desde #Valdunquillo #Valladolid. Se ve débilmente la cola iónica. Focal de 55 mm y exposición de 2 minutos pic.twitter.com/SL2Lx6HAdr
— Fran Sevilla (@fjsevilla) July 13, 2020
Ya se puede ver el cometa al anochecer, además de al amanecer. Aunque de momento sigue siendo más vistoso al amanecer. Esta foto del #cometa C/2020 F3 #NEOWISE es del anochecer, mientras se 'posaba' sobre las flores de los campos de lavanda de #Tiedra, #Valladolid. pic.twitter.com/REi0TOe8vx
— Fernando Cabrerizo (@FerCabPal) July 13, 2020
Comet #NEOWISE over Pantheon in #Paris. It was only 3° over the horizon north! pic.twitter.com/sLmd91pKs8
— Skywalker (@JLucDauvergne) July 11, 2020
A very pleasant eve here with Neowise #neowise pic.twitter.com/DCmY8LPmmQ
— shaun reynolds (@shaunreylec) July 13, 2020
Comet #NEOWISE from last night in Manitoba. Untracked, unstacked and shot with the oldest lens in my kit.
I was frustrated beyond words but what a cool experience! #ExploreMB pic.twitter.com/ONnPbZs78w
— Misheyla Iwasiuk (@MisheylaIwasiuk) July 12, 2020
#NeowiseComet #NEOWISE
As seen from Trapper's Loop (State Highway 167), Utah pic.twitter.com/adFkLgX5Y1— Corrigendum (@ED_Corrigendum) July 13, 2020
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
Note: This story was first published Monday, July 13, 2020. It has been updated to include our “Chicago Tonight” video.