Community Corner
Carloads Head For Hills To View Comet Neowise: PHOTOS
For those who are thinking about venturing out to see it, yes there is still time. Here's what to know.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Many carloads of people ventured into the hills high above Healdsburg over the weekend in search of the perfect spot to get a spectacular view of the Comet Neowise. Once the sky was dark, about an hour after sunset, they looked northwest where the comet made an appearance below the Big Dipper.
Several people, some who brought their dogs along for the ride, were seeing a comet for the first time. Others had high-end cameras and lenses to capture the nighttime show.
The photos here were shared by local photographer Al Francis; enjoy!
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According to Space.com, Comet Neowise has been putting on shows in the Northern Hemisphere nightly since the beginning of July. The last time a comet like this was visible from the Earth was in 1997 when Hale-Bopp was seen for some 18 months.
How Much Longer Is Comet Neowise Visible?
So how much longer is Neowise visible? CNN reports Comet Neowise will continue to rise higher above the northwestern horizon for the rest of this month. It will come closest to Earth — just 64 million miles away — on Wednesday, July 22.
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After this, experts say Comet Neowise — an acronym for NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the NEOWISE mission, which discovered it in late March — won't be back near Earth for another 6,800 years.
Where To See Comet Neowise?
To see the comet with the naked eye, it is best to get away from city lights. About 45 minutes after sunset, look toward the Big Dipper constellation. For a better view, use a telescope or even binoculars.
Over the weekend in Sonoma County, there were reports of motorists getting lost in their search for a viewing spot.
Courtesy of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, here are some tips to avoid getting lost and some things to do ahead of time in the event you do:
- Don't panic.
- Pull over in a safe spot to figure out where you are and how to return home.
- Use your cellphone’s map app.
- Keep a paper map in your car.
- Keep your car's gas tank half-full. This gives you a buffer if you get lost and keeps you better prepared in an emergency, such as evacuations.
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