GREENSBORO, N.C. — It's not everyday that you get to see a comet, but 2020 is giving us that chance. Comet Neowise is being spotted now early in the morning across the United States, and if you know where to look you can get a glimpse here in the Triad area the next few days.
WHERE TO LOOK?
You want to make sure you are looking in the north-northeast corner of the sky. If you have a compass, or the compass app on your phone, angle yourself toward the 40-50 degree direction.
The easiest way to spot Comet Neowise is to find the planet Venus. It's very bright in the northeast sky. You can use an app like SkyViewFree to help identify. Then, look to the left and find the bright star Capella. A straight downward angle to the left toward the horizon will point you to the comet.
It's visible to the naked eye, but binoculars will make the view much better.
WHEN TO LOOK?
You need to get up early. The comet rises above the horizon at about 4:15am. It will continue to rise through the morning.
Problem is, sunrise makes it harder to see as the light brightens the sky.
The best chance to see it for North Carolina is between 4:30am and 5:00am.
WHAT TO AVOID?
You need to avoid trees. Any trees in the northeast corner of your yard will block this comet because it is so low in the sky. Your best bet is likely to drive yourself to an open field or find an unobstructed northeast horizon.
You'll need to avoid bright city lights too. This means if you've got a city to your northeast, it may be difficult to see the comet.
NOT YOUR LAST CHANCE!
This isn't our only chance to see this comet. In the middle of July, the comet is likely to be visible in the northwest sky around dusk - in the evening. It's hard to say if this viewing opportunity will be better or worse than right now.
