THIS fireball streaking across the Herefordshire sky is believed to be the recently discovered comet Neowise.
The picture (see below) was taken by Charlotte Jane at about 7.40pm today near her home between Holme Lacy and Dinedor, near Hereford.
She said: "I thought, Oh, that’s not a plane!, and I ran for my camera and my 150-500mm lens, but then panic set in as I fumbled with settings. I had to share it."
Comets are mostly made of dust, rocks and ice, and are the remnants from time the solar system was formed more than 4.6 billion years ago.
Neowise will reach its closest point to Earth on Thursday, July 23 and it is going to be visible from anywhere in the UK for the rest of the month.
It is best viewed at about 2.30am in the north-east sky anywhere in the country.
Just a few hours ago — incredible capture of Neowise Comet and noctilucent clouds over Stonehenge by @mathewbrowne pic.twitter.com/nMw7nKNLfs
— Khai (@ThamKhaiMeng) July 11, 2020
During its closest approach to Earth the comet will be about 64 million miles away, or about 400 times further away than the moon.
It is currently showing just below and to the lower left of the bright star Capella in the constellation of Auriga, and is moving westwards.
By the end of the month the comet will move into Ursa Major and if it remains as bright as it is now then you should see its tail pointing into the Big Dipper.
The comet was discovered by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or NEOWISE, on March 27.
If you are under clear skies and look to the north, there is a good display of noctilucent clouds and you should also be able to catch a glimpse of Comet Neowise.
Blink or you might miss it. ☄️
— NASA (@NASA) July 8, 2020
Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE made its once-in-our-lifetimes close approach to the Sun on July 3, 2020, and will cross outside Earth's orbit on its way back to the outer parts of the solar system by mid-August: https://t.co/WZHOixh69x pic.twitter.com/JYDRwTpfxo
NASA said the comet has become one of the few “naked-eye comets” of the 21st century after it “suddenly” became visible this week.
The size of comets can range from a few miles wide to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet.
As these substances stream off the comet, they form a spectacular gas and dust cloud that tails behind them for millions of miles, and can often be seen from Earth with the naked eye.
With clear skies forecast for many of us, tonight will offer up another excellent opportunity to see Comet #neowise 🌠 in the northern sky.
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 11, 2020
Be prepared for an early start/late night though, with the best views to be had between 1 am and 4 am. pic.twitter.com/qhbbaPiuex
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