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[[File:PIA23792-1600x1200(1).jpg|thumb|left|Discovery image. The comet appears as three fuzzy red dots in this composite of three infrared images taken by NEOWISE on March 27, 2020.]]
[[File:PIA23792-1600x1200(1).jpg|thumb|left|Discovery image. The comet appears as three fuzzy red dots in this composite of three infrared images taken by NEOWISE on March 27, 2020.]]


The object was discovered by a team using the [[Near-Earth Object WISE|WISE]] space telescope under the NEOWISE program on March 27, 2020.<ref name="discovery_date">{{cite web |last1=Mace |first1=Mikayla |title=Comet NEOWISE Sizzles as It Slides by the Sun, Providing a Treat for Observers |url=https://neowise.ipac.caltech.edu/news/neowise20200708/ |publisher=[[ Infrared Processing and Analysis Center]] |accessdate=13 July 2020 |date=8 July 2020}}</ref> It was classified as a [[comet]] on March 31 and named after NEOWISE on April 1.<ref name=MPEC2020-G05>{{cite journal |title=COMET C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) |journal=[[Minor Planet Electronic Circulars]] |date=1 April 2020 |volume=2020-G05 |url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K20/K20G05.html |accessdate=13 July 2020 |quote=On behalf of NEOWISE (C51), J. Masiero reported on March 31 UT that this object showed clear signs of cometary activity.}}</ref> It has the [[naming of comets|systematic designation]] C/2020 F3, indicating a non-periodic comet which was the third discovered in the [[half month|second half]] of March 2020.
The object was discovered by a team using the [[Near-Earth Object WISE|WISE]] space telescope under the NEOWISE program on March 27, 2020.<ref name="discovery_date">{{cite web |last1=Mace |first1=Mikayla |title=Comet NEOWISE Sizzles as It Slides by the Sun, Providing a Treat for Observers |url=https://neowise.ipac.caltech.edu/news/neowise20200708/ |publisher=[[ Infrared Processing and Analysis Center]] |accessdate=13 July 2020 |date=8 July 2020}}</ref> It was classified as a [[comet]] on March 31 and named after NEOWISE on April 1.<ref name=MPEC2020-G05>{{cite journal |title=COMET C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) |journal=[[Minor Planet Electronic Circulars]] |date=1 April 2020 |volume=2020-G05 |url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K20/K20G05.html |accessdate=13 July 2020 |quote=On behalf of NEOWISE (C51), J. Masiero reported on March 31 UT that this object showed clear signs of comet activity.}}</ref> It has the [[naming of comets|systematic designation]] C/2020 F3, indicating a non-periodic comet which was the third discovered in the [[half month|second half]] of March 2020.


Comet NEOWISE made its closest approach to the Sun ([[perihelion]]) on July&nbsp;3, 2020, at a distance of {{Convert|0.29|AU|e6km e6mi|abbr=unit|lk=off}}. This passage increases the comet's [[orbital period]] from about 4400 years to about 6700 years.<ref name=Horizons/> Its closest approach to Earth will occur on July&nbsp;23, 2020, 01:14&nbsp;UT, at a distance of {{Convert|0.69|AU|e6km e6mi|abbr=unit|lk=off}} while located in the constellation of [[Ursa Major]].<ref name=Horizons-CA/>
Comet NEOWISE made its closest approach to the Sun ([[perihelion]]) on July&nbsp;3, 2020, at a distance of {{Convert|0.29|AU|e6km e6mi|abbr=unit|lk=off}}. This passage increases the comet's [[orbital period]] from about 4400 years to about 6700 years.<ref name=Horizons/> Its closest approach to Earth will occur on July&nbsp;23, 2020, 01:14&nbsp;UT, at a distance of {{Convert|0.69|AU|e6km e6mi|abbr=unit|lk=off}} while located in the constellation of [[Ursa Major]].<ref name=Horizons-CA/>

Revision as of 05:41, 22 July 2020

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) photographed from Germany on July 14, 2020
Discovery
Discovered byNEOWISE
Discovery dateMarch 27, 2020[1]
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2458953.5 (April 14, 2020)
Number of
observations		372
Orbit typeLong period comet
Aphelion538 AU (inbound)
710 AU (outbound)
Perihelion0.29478 AU
Semi-major axis270 AU (inbound)
355 AU (outbound)
Eccentricity0.99921
Orbital period~4400 yrs (inbound)[2]
~6700 yrs (outbound)
Inclination128.93°
Last perihelionJuly 3, 2020
TJupiter−0.408
Earth MOID0.36 AU (54 million km; 140 LD)
Jupiter MOID0.81 AU (121 million km)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions~5 km (3 mi)[1]

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope. At that time, it was an 18th-magnitude object, located 2 AU (300 million km; 190 million mi) away from the Sun and 1.7 AU (250 million km; 160 million mi) away from Earth.[3]

It is only visible to observers in the northern hemisphere, but by July 2020, it was bright enough to be visible to the naked eye[4] and might remain visible to the naked eye throughout most of July 2020.[5] As of July 18, the comet was about magnitude 3,[6] making it one of the brightest comets in the northern hemisphere since Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997.

For observers in the northern hemisphere, in the morning, the comet appears very low above the north-eastern horizon, below Capella. In the evening, the comet can be seen low in the north-western sky. The comet can be seen in the morning and evening because it is circumpolar north of the 45th parallel north. On July 17, Comet NEOWISE entered the constellation of Ursa Major, below the asterism of the Big Dipper (The Plough).[7]

History and observations

Discovery image. The comet appears as three fuzzy red dots in this composite of three infrared images taken by NEOWISE on March 27, 2020.

The object was discovered by a team using the WISE space telescope under the NEOWISE program on March 27, 2020.[1] It was classified as a comet on March 31 and named after NEOWISE on April 1.[3] It has the systematic designation C/2020 F3, indicating a non-periodic comet which was the third discovered in the second half of March 2020.

Comet NEOWISE made its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) on July 3, 2020, at a distance of 0.29 AU (43 million km; 27 million mi). This passage increases the comet's orbital period from about 4400 years to about 6700 years.[2] Its closest approach to Earth will occur on July 23, 2020, 01:14 UT, at a distance of 0.69 AU (103 million km; 64 million mi) while located in the constellation of Ursa Major.[8]

Seen from Earth, the comet was less than 20 degrees from the Sun between June 11 and July 9, 2020. By June 10, 2020, as the comet was being lost to the glare of the Sun, it was apparent magnitude 7, when it was 0.7 AU (100 million km; 65 million mi) away from Sun and 1.6 AU (240 million km; 150 million mi) away from Earth.[6] When the comet entered the field of view of the SOHO spacecraft's LASCO C3 instrument on June 22, 2020, the comet had brightened to about magnitude 3, when it was 0.4 AU (60 million km; 37 million mi) away from Sun and 1.4 AU (210 million km; 130 million mi) away from Earth.[6]

By early July, Comet NEOWISE had brightened to magnitude 1,[9][10] far exceeding the brightness attained by previous comets, C/2020 F8 (SWAN), and C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS). By July, it also had developed a second tail. The first tail is blue and made of gas and ions. There is also a red separation in the tail caused by high amounts of sodium. The second twin tail is a golden color and is made of dust, like the tail of Comet Hale–Bopp. This combination resembles comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS). The comet is brighter than C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), but not as bright as Hale–Bopp was in 1997. According to the British Astronomical Association, the comet brightened from a magnitude of about 8 at the beginning of June to −2 in early July.[11] This would make it brighter than Hale–Bopp. However, as it was very near to the Sun, it was reported as 0 or +1 magnitude and remained that bright for only a few days. After perihelion, the comet began to fade, dropping to magnitude 2. Its nucleus activity subdued after mid-July, and its green coma was clearly visible after that.

On July 13, 2020, a sodium tail was confirmed by the Planetary Science Institute's Input/Output facility.[12] Sodium tails have only been observed in very bright comets like Hale–Bopp and sungrazer C/2012 S1 (ISON).

From the infrared signature, the diameter of the comet nucleus is estimated to be approximately 5 km (3 mi).[1] The nucleus is similar in size to Comet Hyakutake and many short-period comets such as 2P/Encke, 7P/Pons-Winnecke, 8P/Tuttle, 14P/Wolf, and 19P/Borrelly.[13] By July 5, NASA's Parker Solar Probe had captured an image of the comet, from which astronomers also estimated the diameter of the comet nucleus at approximately 5 km (3 mi).[14] Other observations were reported on July 21, 2020.[15]

A number of authors have suggested that the comet could become a great comet.[16][17][18][19] However, this distinction is usually reserved for comets that are easily observable with the naked eye, even with low to moderate light pollution.

Trajectory

  • Diagram of the comet's nearly parabolic orbit
    Diagram of the comet's nearly parabolic orbit
  • Comet's position in the sky. The retrograde loops are caused by parallax from Earth's annual motion around the Sun; the most apparent movement occurs when the comet is closest to Earth
    Comet's position in the sky. The retrograde loops are caused by parallax from Earth's annual motion around the Sun; the most apparent movement occurs when the comet is closest to Earth
  • Animation of C/2020 F3's orbit around Sun    C/2020 F3  ·   Sun ·    Mercury ·    Venus ·    Earth ·   Mars
    Animation of C/2020 F3's orbit around Sun
       C/2020 F3  ·   Sun ·    Mercury ·    Venus ·    Earth ·   Mars

In chronological order:

  • Video rendering of the images captured by the International Space Station from its orbit on July 5, 2020, showing NEOWISE rising up against Earth. Set to Machinery Of The Stars by Scott Buckley.
  • July 7, 2020, Golden Gate Bridge, California, United States, four second exposure
    July 7, 2020, Golden Gate Bridge, California, United States, four second exposure
  • C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) July 7, near Sursee, Central Switzerland
    C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) July 7, near Sursee, Central Switzerland
  • July 8, 2020 from Zuzici, Istria, Croatia
    July 8, 2020 from Zuzici, Istria, Croatia
  • Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on July 9, over Split, Croatia
    Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on July 9, over Split, Croatia
  • C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) photographed on July 9, 2020, through a telescope with 280 mm (11 in) objective. The orientation is incorrect, as the comet will always point downward toward the horizon at night; the image is upside down because it was photographed through an astronomical telescope which presented an inverted image.
    C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) photographed on July 9, 2020, through a telescope with 280 mm (11 in) objective. The orientation is incorrect, as the comet will always point downward toward the horizon at night; the image is upside down because it was photographed through an astronomical telescope which presented an inverted image.
  • C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) moving west across a few stars. Nine 15 second exposures taken over ~5 minutes starting at 4:23 am EDT on July 10, 2020 from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. FOV: 36.5' × 36.5'
    C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) moving west across a few stars. Nine 15 second exposures taken over ~5 minutes starting at 4:23 am EDT on July 10, 2020 from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. FOV: 36.5' × 36.5'
  • Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on July 12, from the heights of Collioure, France
    Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on July 12, from the heights of Collioure, France
  • Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise over Salt Lake City, UT at 4:27 am
    Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise's trail over Salt Lake City.  Ultraviolet light ionizes the neutral gas blown off the comet, and the solar wind carries these ions straight out from the Sun to form the ion tail (left tail). The dust tail on the other hand is neutral, composed of small dust particles. Pressure from the Sun's radiation pushes these particles away from the comet's nucleus. These particles continue to follow the comet's orbit around the Sun and form a diffuse, curved tail that typically appears white or pink from Earth (right tail). Tuesday, July 14, 4:27 am, 2020
  • In constellation Lynx with visible streams of dust and gas within tail, video recording on 16 July, 22:32 UTC, Berlin.
  • Comet NEOWISE on July 17, 2020, 18:59 UTC, as it entered into Ursa Major
    Comet NEOWISE on July 17, 2020, 18:59 UTC, as it entered into Ursa Major
  • C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) over Bellevue, WA on July 18, 2020 at 23:30 PDT.
    C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) over Bellevue, WA on July 18, 2020 at 23:30 PDT.
  • Talitha Borealis in conjunction with the comet in the constellation Ursa Major on 18 July 2020 21:30 UTC with an attitude of 17° above the north horizon of Berlin (image height = 4°). At the lower edge of the picture, a bit left from the centre there is the neighbour star Alkaphrah (Kappa Ursae Majoris respectively Talitha Australis). The distance between Talitha Borealis and C/2020 F3 was seven arc minutes.
    Talitha Borealis in conjunction with the comet in the constellation Ursa Major on 18 July 2020 21:30 UTC with an attitude of 17° above the north horizon of Berlin (image height = 4°). At the lower edge of the picture, a bit left from the centre there is the neighbour star Alkaphrah (Kappa Ursae Majoris respectively Talitha Australis). The distance between Talitha Borealis and C/2020 F3 was seven arc minutes.
  • Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise over Rome, Italy on July 19 11:00 UTC with St. Peter's Basilica on the right.
    Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise over Rome, Italy on July 19 11:00 UTC with St. Peter's Basilica on the right.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mace, Mikayla (July 8, 2020). "Comet NEOWISE Sizzles as It Slides by the Sun, Providing a Treat for Observers". Infrared Processing and Analysis Center. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b JPL Horizons barycentric solution for epoch 1950 (before entering planetary region)
    Goto JPL Horizons
    Ephemeris Type: Orbital Elements
    Center: @0 (Solar System Barycenter)
    Time Span: 1950-01-01 to 2050-01-01 and Step Size: 100 years
    1950-Jan-01 is "PR = 1.61 × 106/365.25 days" = 4407 years
    (For long-period comets on multi-thousand year orbits, asymmetric outgassing will affect the highly sensitive orbital period and eccentricity.)
  3. ^ a b "COMET C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. 2020-G05. April 1, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020. On behalf of NEOWISE (C51), J. Masiero reported on March 31 UT that this object showed clear signs of comet activity.
  4. ^ "How to see Comet NEOWISE". EarthSky. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Seiichi Yoshida. "C/2020 F3 ( NEOWISE )". Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) plot @ Comet Observation database (COBS)" (mm.m column). Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "A Bright New Visitor: How to Spot Comet NEOWISE". Sky & Telescope. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  8. ^ JPL Horizons closest approach to Earth
    Goto JPL Horizons
    Ephemeris Type: Observer
    Observer Location: 500 (Geocentric)
    (Closest approach occurs when deldot flips from negative to positive)
  9. ^ "Comet F3 NEOWISE May Perform in July". Universe Today. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "ATel #13853: Morphology and Photometry of Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) from SOHO". Astronomer's Telegram. July 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Nick James (July 6, 2020), "Visual observations page", Comet Section, British Astronomical Association
  12. ^ "NEOWISE: Rare Image of a Comet's Sodium Tail". Planetary Science Institute. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine: numbered comets and diameter > 4 (km) and diameter < 6 (km)". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  14. ^ Miloslav Druckmuller; Robert Nemiroff; Jerry Bonnell (July 11, 2020), The Tails of Comet NEOWISE, NASA
  15. ^ Manzini, Federico; et al. (July 21, 2020). "ATel #13884: Morphological Structures in the inner coma of comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)". The Astronomer's Telegram . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2020 July 18: North)". Seiichi Yoshida. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Seiichi Yoshida's Diary of Comet Observations (2020)". Seiichi Yoshida. July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "COMET NEOWISE UPDATE: EASY TO SEE IN THE EVENING! WHEN AND HOW TO SEE COMET NEOWISE". Farmer's Almanac. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "APOD: 2020 July 13 - Comet NEOWISE Rising over the Adriatic Sea". NASA. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
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