Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is now visible to the naked eye across French skies. Look toward the Great Bear's claws for this stunning, fleeting cosmic display.
While Comets ATLAS and SWAN grabbed early summer headlines, NEOWISE has stolen the spotlight. Discovered on March 27, it safely passed its closest solar approach and reaches its nearest point to Earth—103 million km—on July 23. Currently at a safe distance from the Sun, it's observable without aids.
Until July 13, early risers caught NEOWISE rising in the northeast around 4 a.m. At our latitudes, it remained visible at night's end. From July 20 onward, dawn views fade amid horizon haze.
Night owls now take precedence: NEOWISE emerges post-sunset, growing brighter as darkness falls. Scan between the Great Bear's hind legs on the northeast horizon.
On July 22-23, at peak Earth proximity, look above a hind paw claw, then shift between the legs for the next two nights.
Post-July 27, it heads toward Berenice's Hair, between Leo (west) and Boötes (east). Binoculars or a telescope will then be essential.
Time is short for naked-eye views—seize these nights! As a long-period comet, C/2020 F3 won't return near the Sun for another 6,800 years.
Ground observers aren't alone: International Space Station crew, including Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, captured it too, as shared in Space.com's video compilation.
