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Comet NEOWISE over Lebanon
NASA has featured the stunning photo of Comet NEOWISE and silvery blue wave-like clouds as its Astronomy Picture of the Day. The image was captured in the eastern French alps this week
The comet was discovered by NASA in March and will be visible in night skies around the world this month.
NASA added: “It’s now emerging in morning twilight only just visible to the unaided eye from a clear location above the northeastern horizon.”
The comet will reach its closest point to Earth on July 23, at which point it will be at a distance of 103 million kilometres, according to Paul Sutherland, author of Skymania.
He explained: “The comet’s track is currently carrying it between the constellations of Auriga and Gemini, so in early July you will have to look to the north-east, a little way beneath the bright star Capella, to find it.
NASA spots Comet NEOWISE from space station
“During the rest of July, Comet NEOWISE will head through Lynx and into Ursa Major, passing beneath the familiar asterism of seven bright stars known as the Big Dipper, or the Plough.
"This will keep it low in the sky before dawn, but it will increasingly be visible earlier in the night, in a darker sky.
“By the third week of July, the comet will be on view all night long and stargazers will be able to view it before going to bed, rather than having to get out of their warm beds before dawn!”
While the comet is likely to be visible with the naked eye, binoculars could come in handy if you have them.
Mr Sutherland added: “Binoculars will be very helpful in finding it, even if the comet is just visible in the brightening twilight.”
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