Score a pair of binoculars on Saturday afternoon. If necessary, also take a preventive afternoon nap. Because if you want to admire comet NEOWISE in full glory, you have to make do next night during the darkest hours.
The strikingly bright comet, actually a frozen ball of ice and snow, reaches its peak brightness on Saturday night. And the weather conditions are top, says meteorologist Alfred Snoek of Weerplaza when asked. “There will be some clouds now and then, but there are a lot more clearings than last night. It looks good!”
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NEOWISE reached our galaxy in early July. However, due to cloud cover, the comet has not always been easy to admire. A week ago, on the night from Friday to Saturday, enthusiasts already got their money’s worth and NEOWISE showed itself beautifully, including a long tail.
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Next night there will be an ultimate opportunity for anyone who wants to see the comet. Meteorologist Alfred Snoek indicates that there are significant clear-ups and, to top it all, there is also little moonlight. The latter is because it is the New Moon, where only the shadow side of the moon can be seen. “NEOWISE will therefore sign even better.”
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Just stay where you are
Traveling from one part of the province to another for the best view saves you the hassle. Because actually, the cards are just shuffled all over Brabant. This certainly applies around an hour or half past two, in the middle of the night, when twilight is not yet present. “A few will be unlucky that it is just as cloudy when he sets his alarm clock. But out of ten people, eight will immediately be lucky.” And for the unlucky ones: make a cup of coffee and be patient. Because most likely your moment will come soon, in a next clearance.
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NEOWISE can also be seen in the coming days, but the weather will become more changeable. On July 22, the distance to Earth is the smallest, “only” 103 million kilometers. But the comet is no longer as bright as next night. From September NEOWISE will be completely out of the picture for our earthlings, only to show itself again in some 8600 years.
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