Current week (from 14th to 19th of July 2020) will be the most convenient time for the observation of unexpected and very rare visitor in the Solar system – a comet NEOWISE. At this time in the Northern hemisphere it is worth waiting for an hour and a half after sunset. The comet will be visible to the naked eye, and the presence of any optical device will add details and colors in this process.
Comet NEOWISE was first discovered on March 27 wide-angle infrared telescope NASA’s Near – Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. On its acronym it got its name. By June, the comet was approaching the Sun close enough to grow long and beautiful tail. Astronomers have established that the July 3, NEOWISE passed perihelion, rounded star and went back for a very profitable trajectory closer to Earth.
The current distance to the NEOWISE about 100 000 000 km and closer it will not fly up, is that slightly. The closest situation will be observed on July 22, after which the comet will fly away to the outer reaches of the Solar system to return not earlier than 6800 years. That is, now we have one last chance to admire the space traveler.
Source — NASA