July 14, 2020

UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A newly discovered comet that was found on March 27, 2020 called comet Neowise can bee seen just after dusk and the early morning hours for the next few days. The next time you’ll be able to see comet Neowise will be 6,766 years from now so you might want to get a look at it tonight just after dark.

If viewing it is best to use a application such as “Star Walk 2” to help find the elevation and area in the sky to look. Just after dark it can be seen in the north west sky and in the early morning hours it can be seen in the north east sky.

Tonight look north west about an hour after sunset and you’ll have about an hour to see it before it dips below the horizon at 11:25 pm. The comet will rise in the north east around 2:54 am and can be seen until about an hour before sunrise but as the sun rises the view of the comet fades quickly so earlier the better.

If viewing bring binoculars, spotting scope or telescope for the best view. For the next few days you can see it with the naked eye after that you will need optical assistance.

If photographing suggested items would be:

1. Tripod
2. Lens 300 mm or longer.
3. Shutter release or use timer in camera so you do not get shake.
4. Manual focus on comet or other distant object and hyper focus in “live view” zoomed in if you have that option.
5. Shut off image stabilizer (if camera has it) to prevent a shake effect.

You will also need to find an area with a large field with a clear view to the north west sky for after sunset and a north east view for before sunrise. Take many different exposures and bracket in “manual mode” to make sure you get the exposure correct.

The comet can be seen all over the country in the night sky. The images below were taken in Upper Freehold Township near the border of Robbinsville Township.

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