Comet NEOWISE closest to earth today: Where, when and how to see it

Comet NEOWISE is going to make its closest approach to earth on Thursday. It will pass by at a distance of 103.5 million kilometres of 64.3 million miles, as it is dimming in visibility with time by moving away from the sun.

NEOWISE will be visible after sunset in the north western skies around the world. In India, however, the comet will be visible until around 9:30 pm. 

How to see it

Skywatchers in northern hemisphere, including Indians, will be able to spot the comet just south of the Big Dipper constellation, also known as Saptarishi in India. NEOWISE will be visible just 23 degrees southeast to the two stars Big Dipper, that form its bowl shape.

Binoculars and telescopes will provide a clearer view of the tails of the comet, but it will also be visible with naked eye. A few apps will also be able to track the comet and point it.

While in India, the comet sets at 9:30 pm, people up north will be able to see it for more time. The best time to view it will be between 8:30-9:30 pm when the moon sets.

NEOWISE, officially known as C/2020 F3, was first detected by the WISE Telescope and is named after it. It takes 95 minutes to orbit the earth and is currently flying at a speed of 13,942 kilometres per hour. 

The comet, which made its closest approach to the sun on July 3, will not be visible from the earth in another 6,800 years after it completes orbiting the star.