Whatever you do don’t miss the comet Neowise in Perth on Sunday night.
If you are thinking comet Neowise is just another space thing in Perth that will happen again in a few months? Wrong! Literally this is a once in a lifetime opportunity as the comet Neowise will not be visible in the earth’s sky again for 6,800-years.
The Neowise comet has lit up the skies all around the globe wowing those who have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse as it makes a pass over the earth on its approximate 7,000-year lap around the sun.
When and where to view comet Neowise in Perth
Matt Woods from the Perth Observatory has provided the following tips for best viewing Neowise in Perth:
- Best time to view comet Neowise will be on Sunday at 6.30pm
- As Neowise will be low in the sky it is recommended that you will need clear views to the low north-west horizon
- Best viewing spots will be beaches & the lookouts on the Perth escarpment.
- While it may be visible to the eye bringing out your camera and tripod will provide the best viewing opportunities.
The comet appears bright and visible from earth because sunlight reflects from the gas and dust it gives off as it is warmed by the sun.
Watch: NASA Science Live: How to Spot Comet NEOWISE
Twitter: Stunning shot of Comet Neowise photographed in the US
Comet Neowise fun facts
According to space.com here are some fun facts about comet Neowise that you can ponder as it zooms past Perth’s sky.
- There are 13 million Olympic pools of water on Neowise
- Neowise is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) in diameter
- Which is an average size for comets
- Comet is travelling at about 40 miles per second (that’s about 144,000 mph, or 231,000 km/h)
- The comet is currently about 70 million miles (111 million kilometers) away from Earth
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