Comets are traditionally known as harbringers of doom. With the year 2020 being affected by the biggest pandemic in recent human history, even scientists may be inclined to think so. However, there are group of people who are very excited about these visitors from deep space.
We call ourselves Amateur Astronomers and Astrophotographers. With the technology available these days at everyones disposal, it has become relatively easy to capture a lifelong memory of a bright comet. I too am one of the many across the world waiting for this opportunity. The monsoon season of India though is a spoilsport for astronomers.
The comet in question is the C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, named after the orbiting spacecraft of the same name. These past few days it was bright enough to be visible to the unaided eye in the early hours of the day. The image below was captured by a fellow Indian amateur astrophotographer Mr. Deepak Dembla residing in London. The image was captured using a Nikon 610, Sigma 300mm lens and a single 2min exposure at ISO 200.
We call ourselves Amateur Astronomers and Astrophotographers. With the technology available these days at everyones disposal, it has become relatively easy to capture a lifelong memory of a bright comet. I too am one of the many across the world waiting for this opportunity. The monsoon season of India though is a spoilsport for astronomers.
The comet in question is the C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, named after the orbiting spacecraft of the same name. These past few days it was bright enough to be visible to the unaided eye in the early hours of the day. The image below was captured by a fellow Indian amateur astrophotographer Mr. Deepak Dembla residing in London. The image was captured using a Nikon 610, Sigma 300mm lens and a single 2min exposure at ISO 200.
Currently however, it is approaching perihelion and will be visible after sunset and shall be at best brightness on 22nd July 2020, an hour after sunset. It should be easily visible to the naked eye from a village, and through a pair of binoculars from a city. Astrophotographers may be required to use a short focal length lens coupled to a camera body mounted to a tracking device.