Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: Tom B on 17 July, 2020, 10:05:13 am

Title: Comet Neowise
Post by: Tom B on 17 July, 2020, 10:05:13 am

Brightest comet since Hale-Bopp, apparently. I just discovered its existence. Has anyone seen it yet?

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: benborp on 17 July, 2020, 10:18:31 am

Yes, very clear in the NNW evening sky now. Extremely clear skies here have been helpful as it is quite low.

Had a very good night for seeing recently and it was good through binoculars, though more impressive with the naked eye. A very large sweep of the tail is apparent when not looking directly at it.

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: Guy on 17 July, 2020, 10:20:51 am

For the past week or so every night has been cloudy. >:(

So no. I haven't seen it yet.

I dare say the skies will clear once the comet's gone  ::-)

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: Jaded on 17 July, 2020, 10:21:26 am

Some photos here

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=116224.msg2516835#msg2516835

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 July, 2020, 01:41:05 pm

Is it just me or does "Neowise" sound like:

• an off-the-shelf company name invented by a primitive piece of software, and/or
• a right-wing think tank

???

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: hellymedic on 19 July, 2020, 04:17:35 pm

I think the name is a committee fabricated acronym thing;
Near
Earth
Object
<don't know the rest>

Title: Re: Comet Neowise
Post by: quixoticgeek on 19 July, 2020, 04:22:16 pm

There was once a project from NASA called Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). NASA extended WISE and it became NEOWISE. NEOWISE found this comet. It actually found 20 of them.

And yes, NEO is Near-Earth Object WISE (NEOWISE)

Not New Engine Option... as it is used in some other fields...

J