It has now become an evening event, "Sky & Telescope says Comet Neowise will appear just as the last of twilight fades into darkness. The Big Dipper hangs by its handle at this time, so look about three fists below the "bowl." It is possible that this means that one has to have a good, clear northwest horizon - which is looking away from Phoenix, so that is a good thing for us. A few notes about comets. "Comets have inspired dread, fear, and awe in many different cultures and societies around the world and throughout time. They have been branded with such titles as "the Harbinger of Doom" and "the Menace of the Universe." They have been regarded both as omens of disaster and messengers of the gods. "In the middle ages, people believed that comets caused outbreaks of the Black Death." "In Hinduism comets for told bad events. They believed that when a comet appeared a king or important person would die, also there would be a calamity or civil unrest." "Even as late as the 18th and 19th-century people believed that comets were a sign that the world was coming to an end." "They regarded comets as 'big fire' in the sky because of their brightness and association with hot, arid weather which led to hurricanes, rainstorms and droughts." "From the Roman Empire onwards, comets became the symbol of another kind of disaster, the human-related one – death, riots, wars and slaughter, the death of a king or noble being the one that caught most attention.' Here is my picture of the infamous Hale-Bopp, the last major comet.
I did see the comet tonight (Wednesday) at about 8:45, when it was quite faint (too much sunset) and again at nine when it was quite lovely, but I did need to use binocs both times. But it was well worth it and I shall be out again tomorrow night.
Had another excellent viewing tonight (Thursday) after 9, so complete dark but still could not see it with naked eye, but great with small binocs.
Last night, July 18, at 8:40 I saw the comet neowise. It was to the north just over my garage and moved very fast. It looked just like picture - square shaped. I needed to use binoculars.
The comet moves at about the same speed as the moon, so if you saw it move, it probably was not the comet.
Correction. When I saw (comet), it did not move "very fast". It moved at just about the same speed as the moon. I have watched the moon move across my palm tree so I know the speed.
Unfortunately clouds have obscured it for the past several nights so I don't know how fast it is receding.
I've tried but only saw 2 tiny stars beneath the bowl, but am gonna make believe one of them was the comet since I tried so hard and that should account for something....
