MISSOULA — The Comet NEOWISE will continue to pass through skies above Montana for the next several days.
On Sunday the comet will start appearing right after the sunsets (around dusk).
From July 12th and onward we can expect the comet to pass by at a low angle on the northwest horizon, but as we head closer to late July, the brightness may increase as it passes closer to Earth’s atmosphere.
The website Earthsky.org states: "Comet NEOWISE will be closest to Earth on July 22-23, 2020. It will pass at some 64 million miles (103 million km) from our planet. The good news is that – if the comet continues looking great – the view during the night of closest approach should be nice. Although binoculars might be required for the celestial visitor, it will be visible at the same time we see a beautiful crescent (not too bright) moon."
And from Space.com: "The first good opportunity for evening viewing begins on July 12, when the head of the comet will stand 5 degrees above the north-northwest horizon, 80 minutes after sunset (the end of nautical twilight). By July 14 its altitude will have already doubled to 10 degrees, and by July 19 it will have doubled yet again to 20 degrees up by the end of nautical twilight. By then it will have moved to above the northwest horizon."
