Steve Jasiecki/Comet Neowise over Sunset Beach, Cape May July 14, 2020.
Submitted by STEVE JASIECKI
This week, we are in for a rare, celestial treat if we have cooperating skies and weather. Comet Neowise made an unsuspecting presence this year and is already the best naked-eye viewable comet since Comet Hall-Bopp in 1995.
Comets are not really rare. They usually remain beyond our field of vision and only strong telescopes get to reveal their presence. But when a comet of significant size, or its orbit brings it close to Earth, then we get to see these cosmic visitors. To actually see one without binoculars or a telescope is rare.
Comets are celestial visitors that are part of our solar system. Like planets, they orbit the sun, but in long ellipse orbits. These can be short or unusually long, like Comet Neowise, which circles the sun once every 6,800 years.
Comets are usually named after the person who first discovers them. Hailey’s Comet, the most famous of comets, was named after Edmond Hailey. He was the first person to actually calculate a comet’s orbit and predict when it will return. Since then, comets were named after their discoverer.
NEOWISE, which stands for Near-Earth-Orbital-Wide Field-Infrared-Survey-Explorer, is a satellite designed to detect and track moving celestial objects including near earth asteroids. The satellite discovered the comet in March and so the comet is named for the satellite that discovered it, Neowise.
To view the comet you need a clear view of the northwest horizon and dark unpolluted skies. Start observing after sunset and watch the stars come out. The Big Dipper will be in that section of the sky. Start by looking about a third of the way between the horizon and the big dipper. It is best to scan the sky with binoculars. If you want to take a photograph, place the camera on a tripod, take a long exposure, about 8 seconds, and use a high ISO setting.
As the days progress, each night the comet will appear to move a little higher, giving us better views.
This is a very rare occurrence and well worth the effort. Watch the weather and find a dark section of sky. You may want to bring some bug spray or consider long pants and sleeves. Hope for low humidity and cooler nights for premium viewing.
Photographers note: Cameras have the ability of taking a long exposure thus accumulating light on the cameras sensor making any subject brighter. The human eye is limited so your view of a comet or any low light object will not be as bright. Acclimating your vision by avoiding light will help with your night vision.
Steve Jasiecki/Comet Hale-Bopp over Egg Harbor City Lake, 1995.
