Astronomers getting an eyeful of Comet NEOWISE

Ethan Siegel has been keeping his eye on the sky of late.

The Washington-based astronomer recommends others do the same over the next week or two if they want to catch a glimpse of Comet NEOWISE.

The comet, which was discovered only in late March, has been visible in the night sky in recent weeks. It’s to make its closest approach to Earth on Wednesday.

“We haven’t had a comet this spectacular on Earth since 2007,” Siegel said on Tuesday’s Greg Morgan Morning Show. “This is what I would say is the best comet in 13 years.”

And this one won’t be back in these parts for 6,800 years.

Comet NEOWISE is visible in the northwest after sunset. These days, it can be found right below the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s ladle.

“You put a pair of binoculars on it or you put a camera on it and you take like a 20-second exposure photograph with it, you will see it’s spectacular,” Siegel said. “You will see one possibly even two tails coming from this comet.”

Siegel said Comet NEOWISE has remained bright throughout the month, but it will start to fade over the next week or two.

It also will continue to move out of the northwest sky toward the west — but it also will move higher in the night sky.

“Higher is better,” Siegel said. “Higher (and) farther above the horizon is better because that means less competition with any pollution on the horizon — light pollution, things due to trees or even just the fact that when the sun sets, the horizon gets bright and stays bright for a little while the farther north you are.”