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If you live in the northern hemisphere, have enjoyed clear skies lately and access to a low horizon to the north-west or north-east, you might have spotted a new visitor to our skies: yes, it's #cometNEOWISE!
Follow this thread to find out more.
@markmccaughrean, 12 July 2020
Follow this thread to find out more.
@markmccaughrean, 12 July 2020
Also known as C/2020 F3, #cometNEOWISE was discovered in March using NASA's NEOWISE mission (hence the name!)
As the comet approached the Sun, it grew significantly brighter, eventually becoming visible to the naked-eye from many locations in July.
@kainoeske, 11 July 2020
As the comet approached the Sun, it grew significantly brighter, eventually becoming visible to the naked-eye from many locations in July.
@kainoeske, 11 July 2020
Our in-house comet expert, Dr Charlotte Götz – aka @charlottestalks, who works on data from our #Rosetta mission – explains us how the 5-km nucleus of #cometNEOWISE gives rise to the impressive tails, hundreds of millions of km long, that we can see in the night sky lately 
In pictures like this 
we see two tails of #cometNEOWISE:
a white dust tail that curves away from the Sun & trails the comet's motion
a blue plasma tail, a result of the ionisation of gases, which always points straight away from the Sun.
@markmccaughrean, 19 July 2020
we see two tails of #cometNEOWISE: a white dust tail that curves away from the Sun & trails the comet's motion a blue plasma tail, a result of the ionisation of gases, which always points straight away from the Sun. @markmccaughrean, 19 July 2020
If you haven't spotted #cometNEOWISE yet, this week might be your chance!
The comet, which had its closest approach to the Sun in early July, will be closest to Earth – still at safe distance, some 100 million km away – in the next couple days.
@markmccaughrean, 21 July 2020
The comet, which had its closest approach to the Sun in early July, will be closest to Earth – still at safe distance, some 100 million km away – in the next couple days.
@markmccaughrean, 21 July 2020
How to spot #cometNEOWISE in the sky, you wonder?
Follow the tips of Dr Rachana Bhatawdekar – aka @AstroRach, who studies some of the most distant galaxies in the Universe but also enjoys the sight of celestial visitors to our cosmic neighbourhood.
Remember to stay safe!
Follow the tips of Dr Rachana Bhatawdekar – aka @AstroRach, who studies some of the most distant galaxies in the Universe but also enjoys the sight of celestial visitors to our cosmic neighbourhood.Remember to stay safe!
Recap to observe #cometNEOWISE:
Find a low horizon to the north-west (after dusk) or north-east (before dawn)
Locate the Big Dipper constellation, then look a bit down + to the right
Binoculars or a camera might help
Stay safe & enjoy the view
@AstroRach, 19 July 2020
Find a low horizon to the north-west (after dusk) or north-east (before dawn)Locate the Big Dipper constellation, then look a bit down + to the rightBinoculars or a camera might helpStay safe & enjoy the view @AstroRach, 19 July 2020
Note that #cometNEOWISE will NOT look as spectacular as in these long-exposure photos, especially if you are near city lights. It will appear as a fuzzy streak in the sky – still a unique view!
If you snap any pictures, share them in the comments #clearskies #staysafe #spacecare
If you snap any pictures, share them in the comments #clearskies #staysafe #spacecare
Did you manage to see #cometNEOWISE last night?
We hear the comet is getting fainter (it also appears bluer-greener lately) but you can still try to capture it with a camera. Stay with us for photography tips + our plans to study comets in the future!
@kainoeske, 21 July 2020
We hear the comet is getting fainter (it also appears bluer-greener lately) but you can still try to capture it with a camera. Stay with us for photography tips + our plans to study comets in the future!
@kainoeske, 21 July 2020
Planning to take pictures of #cometNEOWISE but not sure where to start?
Follow this short tutorial by Dr Sandor Kruk – aka @kruksandor, who studies galaxies and gravitational lensing, and last week couldn't resist chasing + seeing a comet w/ the naked eye for the first time!
Follow this short tutorial by Dr Sandor Kruk – aka @kruksandor, who studies galaxies and gravitational lensing, and last week couldn't resist chasing + seeing a comet w/ the naked eye for the first time!
It is possible to image #cometNEOWISE even with your mobile phone – best with a Manual or Night Mode that allows to take several second exposures & let more light in.
Try to find a dark spot, away from city lights + with a low horizon, and stay safe!
@kruksandor, 12 July 2020
Try to find a dark spot, away from city lights + with a low horizon, and stay safe!
@kruksandor, 12 July 2020
If you have a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera + a tripod, you may experiment further and capture beautiful views of #cometNEOWISE like this stack of 85 x 3 sec exposures, showing the blue ion tail, redder dust tail & green-hued nucleus.
@markmccaughrean, 21 July 2020
@markmccaughrean, 21 July 2020
Can we visit #cometNEOWISE, you wonder?
The short answer is: NO. The comet is on an almost parabolic orbit, it was only detected a few months ago, and because it is very fast + relatively far away, we cannot build a spacecraft to encounter it in time.
@kainoeske, 12 July 2020
The short answer is: NO. The comet is on an almost parabolic orbit, it was only detected a few months ago, and because it is very fast + relatively far away, we cannot build a spacecraft to encounter it in time.
@kainoeske, 12 July 2020
But... it's not like we haven't thought about that before
We have a new space mission in store that will do just that: @CometIntercept
Due to launch in 2028, it will wait for a 'great comet' like #cometNEOWISE to study it up close.
Find our more with Dr Charlotte Götz
We have a new space mission in store that will do just that: @CometIntercept
Due to launch in 2028, it will wait for a 'great comet' like #cometNEOWISE to study it up close.Find our more with Dr Charlotte Götz
Our future Comet Interceptor will study the nucleus, gases, dust & plasma of a comet that has not been discovered yet 
It will also compare this to results from missions like Giotto (left) & Rosetta (right) to study how comet surfaces change every time they approach the Sun.
It will also compare this to results from missions like Giotto (left) & Rosetta (right) to study how comet surfaces change every time they approach the Sun.
Comet Interceptor will make a flyby of the chosen (as-yet undiscovered) comet when it approaches Earth’s orbit. The aim is to target a ‘dynamically new’ or ‘pristine’ object, containing unprocessed material from the dawn of the Solar System, to learn more about our cosmic origins
Comets are storytellers from the formation of our Solar System, enabling us to look back in time and find out how the Sun, Earth & planets took shape 4.5 billion years ago.
We hope you enjoyed viewing #cometNEOWISE, either in person or through photos – including ours! #spacecare
We hope you enjoyed viewing #cometNEOWISE, either in person or through photos – including ours! #spacecare
