Comet SWAN Could Soon Grace our Skies - Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion May 21, 2020
A green comet is now starting to be seen in northwestern skies in the hours after sunset. Will Comet SWAN dazzle or disappoint? Here's how to see it.
A new comet is coming our way — Comet SWAN. Will it be sight to remember, or will it dash our dreams, like Comet ATLAS?
By James Maynard
Comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN), seen on May 2,2020, showing a bright head, and a budding green tail. Image credit: Diego Toscan @toscan.diego (cc)
Night skies in late May and early June may be graced by the sight of a magnificent swan. But, this is no bird — it is a visitor from the distant reaches of the Solar System.
C/2020 F8 (SWAN) (or Comet SWAN) is, just now, starting to be visible to viewers under dark skies without the use of binoculars or a telescope.
Oddly, this icy remnant from the outer solar system was discovered by an amateur scientist, looking in data from an instrument not meant to find comets.
Read more: https://bit.ly/Comet_SWAN
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- James