Have you ever noticed the NEOWISE comet? Scroll down to see the sky maps for this weekend.
This small guest diffused to the formula of the outer sun is a magnificent sight to see, however, many other people in the northern hemisphere have noticed this “great comet”, just as many have struggled to locate it in their night sky.
Do it right and the NEOWISE comet is a must, for now. Here are some things you want to know about the comet before going hunting, then how, when and where to locate it:
Wait 90 minutes after sunset. Then you can look at the rest of the night because the NEOWISE comet is circumpolar, never folds (at least for now).
You want a position with a smart, unobstructed view of the northwest horizon. Preferably, you also want to be in a position with as little mild contaminants as possible. Choose a park on the outskirts of the city rather than in the city center, but if you can get as far away from the urban spaces as possible. However, even if you’re far enough away, check out to avoid this northern contaminant from mild contaminants.
Don’t think too much about it, however, as an example, it would be a bad concept for a dark position southeast of Las Vegas and then look northwest for the NEOWISE comet: the city’s brightness would be precisely in the “wrong position.”
In any case, you deserve to locate a smart dark sky site, the Light Pollution Map and the Dark Sites Finder, or identify a dark sky reserve or dark sky park near you.
The comet will be in the northwestern sky after dark, moving into the northeastern sky before dawn. The easiest way to locate the comet is to look under the Big Dipper/Plough/Casserole, this collection of seven bright stars that the maximum of us will recognize. Then look from there towards the horizon and locate the comet, scanning the domain with the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars (see below).
As with all stars, the position of the stars and comet moves depending on when you look at them. These specific stars are circumpolar, so they seem to move counterclockwise around Polaris, the northern star (the only star in the northern hemisphere night sky that does not seem to move). It’s their orientation that’s most poignant.
However, if you stick to the tail curve of the Big Dipper/Plough/Casserole, you more or less hit the NEOWISE comet. Here are some sky diagrams for the northern mid-latitudes this weekend for a few hours after sunset:
Although it should be possible to see Comet NEOWISE with the unaided eye this weekend, it is now fading. Take any pair of binoculars, which in any case has always been the best way to observe the comet over the past few weeks.
It is vital to know that the comet descends towards the horizon: its tail is dragging it into the sky. It begins to glow slightly bluish green as it gradually fades.
The most productive way to look at the comet, either with the naked eye or with binoculars, is to use the technique of “avoided vision”. The peripheral vision of the human eye is highly sensitive to brightness, while half of the eye is more sensitive to color. When looking at the comet with the naked eye or with binoculars, look to the left or right of the comet and its tail. In this way, your peripheral vision will stumble more on its brightness.
It’s also helping to adapt your eyes to the dark. Stay in an absolutely dark position for 20 minutes and your pupils will expand to allow as smooth entry as possible. This way you will see many more stars and see the comet more clearly.
We don’t have to wait. Immediately start stargazing and looking for the comet, but stay in the brain so that your night vision is gradually activated. The maximum productive recommendation is also the maximum difficult to pay attention to fashionable humans; Don’t look at your smartphone, as its soft white color will absolutely kill your night vision.
Follow all those tips and you’ll see one of the top picturesque kites over 20 years old, but hurry!
I wish you a clear sky and big eyes.
I am an experienced journalist in science, generation and interested in area exploration, moon observation, night sky exploration, solar eclipses and lunars,
I am an experienced journalist in science, generation and travel, interested in area exploration, moon observation, night sky exploration, solar and lunar eclipses, astronomical travel, wildlife conservation and nature. I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and writer of “A Stargazing Program for Beginners: A Pocket Field Guide” (Springer, 2015), as well as eclipse hunting guides.