UPDATED: The prefix “neo” means “new,” not “post” or “after,” as originally written. We appreciate the correction!
The name NEOWISE sounds like something out of “The Matrix,” and from a Latin perspective, it means “new-wisdom.” The comet, discovered on March 20, 2020, is actually named for the NASA mission that spotted it: the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE).
There are only a few days left to view the comet. It will be closest to earth tonight, July 23. It’s visible in the northwest sky just after sunset below the Big Dipper. Binoculars or a small telescope will give the best views, although it is visible to the naked eye. If you miss it, it won’t come around again until 8786, if it doesn’t explode and disintegrate first. According to the NASA website, the current number of known comets is 3,652. Comets are composed of frozen dust, rock and ice. “As they get closer to the sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. This material forms a tail that stretches millions of miles.”
Scan the Zapcode for a video on how to view the comet, or click/tap on it in the digital edition.
