Neowise, one of the brightest comets in decades, is closest to Earth today
Neowise, one of the brightest comets in decades, has brought with it a stunning debris trail this month, delighting skywatchers around the world. Its closest approach to Earth comes today, July 22, at a distance of about 64 million miles.
Throughout July, the newly-discovered comet, formally named Comet C2020 F3 NEOWISE by NASA, has been visible both in the early hours before sunrise, and later in the evening after sunset. To view it, people in the Northern Hemisphere can look to the northwestern sky, just below Ursa Major, commonly known as the Big Dipper constellation.
Astrophotographers, as well as astronauts aboard the International Space Station, have captured the stunning celestial phenomenon, which will continue to bring spectacular sightings into early August. After that, the comet will begin its journey away from Earth back toward the outer solar system.
The event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience — the comet takes about 6,800 years to complete its path around the sun, according to NASA.
Southern California
Czech Republic
Italy
#DespertarPlanetario ☀️
— Planetario de Madrid (@PlanetarioMad) July 10, 2020
☄️ Cometa NEOWISE sobre la motaña Hochfeiler en los Alpes 🗻
📷 Martin Rietze/SWNS.com pic.twitter.com/jsuRYJblyW
French Alps
Hungary
International Space Station
China
New York
Neowise (C/2020 F3) over New York City this morning an hour or so before sunrise. pic.twitter.com/8TfMV0sf1j
— Nicholas Isabella (@NycStormChaser) July 9, 2020
New Jersey
Spain
Turkey
Belarus
Canada
Comet NEOWISE and the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada 🍁! I was up really early for this shot. It's not often that we get the opportunity to see or photograph a comet of this brightness and with a tail. I hope you like it!🤩 https://t.co/BFyxFFw2DE pic.twitter.com/sGZBiEVryM
— Kerry LH💫 (@weatherandsky) July 5, 2020
Comet NEOWISE shining bright this morning in Huron County, Ontario. Visible to the naked eye! Definitely one worth waking up at 3:30 am for. @c2020f3 pic.twitter.com/DO5s9ZyWEn
— Jason O'Young (@jasonoyoung) July 6, 2020
Arizona
No nearby clouds this morning & wound up with the view I was after with Merriam Crater. On any given day that old cinder cone is perfect—then catching it sharing the horizon with this graceful comet gets kind of goosebumpy for me. (Details in next post) #neowise #cometneowise pic.twitter.com/qIVYCFcoMk
— Jeremy Perez (@jperez1690) July 7, 2020
Comet Neowise photographed in #Tucson about an hour ago! #cometneowise #NEOWISE pic.twitter.com/UFYu8Ia0XK
— Sean Parker (@seanparkerphoto) July 8, 2020
Lebanon
Russia
United Kingdom
Belarus
Los Angeles
This photo of #cometNEOWISE taken by @stormbruiser (William Reid) was shot from Moorpark looking north to northwest across the Topatopa Mountains. The comet went behind the mountains around 940 pm.#cawx #laweather #Socal pic.twitter.com/vo761aOsRl
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) July 15, 2020