Eyes to the skies to see the comet’s show

THIS is the stunning sight of a comet in the sky over Cheltenham Racecourse.

This image of Comet Neowise was taken in the early hours of Saturday by Tom Chitson, who has kindly let the Gloucestershire Echo share the image.

He said it is one of the few comets that will be visible to the naked eye this century.

The 24-year-old environmental researcher said: “I’ve been interested in astronomy since I studied it as an optional GCSE at school, and it even inspired me to study Physics at university.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a comet in the night sky, and luckily my girlfriend’s house has a brilliant view overlooking Cheltenham Racecourse and, importantly, the northern horizon where Comet Neowise is visible.”

It will be at its closest point to earth 103 million kilometres away - on July 23, according to Paul Sutherland, author of Skymania.

He said: “By the third week of July, the comet will be on view all night long and stargazers will be able to view it before going to bed, rather than having to get out of their warm beds before dawn!”

It has also been seen from the International Space Station.

A NASA spokesman said: “Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) was discovered in late March and brightened as it reached its closest approach to the Sun, inside the orbit of Mercury, late last week.

“The interplanetary iceberg survived solar heating, so far, and is now becoming closer to the Earth as it starts its long trek back to the outer Solar System.”

If you want to see the comet, you can look to the east around midnight to 1am and you’ll see the bright object that is actually Venus.

From there, look left (facing north) and you should see the bright star Capella.

Then look down towards the horizon and to the left and you should be able to see a streak.

Each night it will be a little further to the left.