How to find the comet Neowise. We asked to the astrophotographer Alessia Scarso

22 Lug 2020 00:50

That it is visible to the naked eye in our parts is a kind of urban legend, because of our light pollution. Those who have a good eye and are in a fairly dark area can certainly do so, but only by identifying a very precise reference quadrant. But how to understand where to look to find the comet Neowise? We asked the director and astrophotography Alessia Scarso who in these days has made some beautiful shots, including the one accompanying this article.

So how do we “find” the comet? “By now all phones have a compass app – suggests Alessia Scarso – The comet is in these days between 315 and 320 degrees of compass, which corresponds to the north west. But to see Neowise you also need to know what height it is, an altitude always in degrees which is called azimuth. These days we find it between 20 degrees and 10 degrees between 21.30 and 22.30.

In addition, as soon as there is sufficient darkness, but before the sunset of the comet, that is, before 11 pm, another reference is to look under the Ursa Major. Any help apps? Star walk 2 is a generic live view that helps to get an idea of ​​where the comet is located, apps like Stellarium gives precise and exact coordinates minute by minute, the Sun Surveyor app, known the coordinates, helps to locate the point in live view.

If you cannot identify with the naked eye despite the exact indications of the mobile apps, just take a long exposure photo on a tripod with a reflex, even basic (already 4 seconds with a medium brightness lens at full aperture), and the comet will magically appear on the machine’s display. ”
photo by Alessia Scarso www.alessiascarso.it