Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) is peaking for observers in the northern hemisphere in early July.  As I type this the comet is a morning object rising in the northeast at about 4:45 a.m. CDT. The brightening of the sky as dawn approaches means the early bird gets the worm. You will not have much time to get your shot until the comet is washed out should you hope to photograph the comet.

Over the next few days NEOWISE will dive lower in the sky until it emerges as an evening object in the northwest sky. If the comet holds it current magnitude and does not suffer the same fate as others that came before it, namely Comet Atlas, then sky watchers should continue to enjoy this celestial interloper well into the month.

The screen shot below from Stellarium shows the comet over the next five few days (7/11-15) in the morning sky. NEOWISE is quickly dropping out of view but you still have time to catch it.

Once NEOWISE is in the evening sky starting on July 15/16th it should make for a great sight as it climbs higher each day. The chart below gives its position each evening at 9:30 p.m. through August 1st. There is of course no guarantee that the comet will hold its current brightness especially since once in the evening sky the  comet will be outbound from the Sun, and will surely begin to wane in brightness. However, if NEOWISE can maintain its stamina and continue to dazzle sky watchers then I think it’s safe to say July will be the “Month of NEOWISE!”

Happy hunting!

Scott