When and where to see the decade’s brightest comet in Sacramento

Searching for the bright side to 2020? Try spotting Neowise, the brightest comet in 23 years, which is visible at dusk and dawn around the world this week.

To get a good view of the comet, you’ll need to escape city lights. Dark places with a full view of the horizon, like beaches and fields, offer the best view, according to The Washington Post. If you want a little road trip, Neowise has been photographed from the Golden Gate Bridge. Closer to Sacramento, parks and riverside spots may be good seats for the celestial show.

Early birds will want to look for Neowise in the northeastern sky between 4 and 4:30 a.m. The comet’s arc will show up there through July 20. From about July 12 to July 30, evening viewers can see the comet in the northwest starting around an hour after sunset. The comet will appear higher in the sky as the month progresses.

Weather experts say Neowise should be visible to the naked eye at the rights times and places, but binoculars may make for better viewing.

Neowise is probably at its brightest around now, though scientists say comets are unpredictable. It will reach its closest point to Earth — 64 million miles away — July 22.

Scientists first spotted the comet using the Near-Earth Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) space telescope in March, Scientific American reported. Neowise, as it’s been informally named after the telescope, formed from a chunk of ancient ice from the outer solar system. It brightened as it sped through space and released gases, creating a tail.

By late July or August, Neowise may no longer be visible to the naked eye. It will continue to orbit the sun, however, coming back toward Earth again in around 6,800 years.

Old stories say comets spell destruction, but here’s to hoping Neowise is just a fast chunk of ice.

This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 11:19 AM.