How to Find Comet NEOWISE
A complete step-by-step guide to locating and observing Comet NEOWISE using GoSkyWatch Planetarium on your iPhone or iPad.
📡 About Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3)
Comet NEOWISE was discovered in March 2020 by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. It became one of the most spectacular naked-eye comets visible from the Northern Hemisphere in decades, offering a stunning view throughout July 2020. GoSkyWatch helped thousands of users locate it precisely in the twilight sky.
Step-by-Step: Using GoSkyWatch to Find the Comet
Go outdoors to a location with a clear view of the northwestern or northeastern horizon (depending on time of day). Avoid bright city lights for the best view.
Launch GoSkyWatch on your iPhone or iPad. Make sure Location Services are enabled so the app can calculate the correct sky view for your position.
Use the search function in GoSkyWatch to look up "NEOWISE" or "C/2020 F3". The built-in compass arrow will point you toward the comet's current position in the sky.
Comet NEOWISE was best visible just after sunset (northwestern sky) or just before sunrise (northeastern sky) during its peak visibility. The GoSunWatch app can help you time twilight precisely.
While NEOWISE was visible with the naked eye from dark sites, binoculars or a small telescope revealed its dust tail most clearly. GoSkyWatch can help you identify surrounding stars to confirm you've found it.
Once located, use a tripod and your phone's night mode or a dedicated camera with a long exposure to capture the comet and its tail against the twilight sky.
- Peak naked-eye visibility: July 2020
- Best visible from Northern Hemisphere
- Located in Ursa Major (Big Dipper) region at peak
- Orbital period: approximately 6,800 years
- Nucleus diameter: approximately 5 km
- Allow 20 minutes for eyes to dark-adapt
- Use GoSkyWatch red-light mode to protect night vision
- Look for a fuzzy star with a faint tail extending upward
- 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars ideal
- Photograph with ISO 1600–3200, 10–20 second exposure
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