Look To The Night Sky And Catch The Beautiful Comet Swan Over Maine, Completely Visible To The Naked Eye
By Michelle|Published May 13, 2020
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
Many people consider Maine to be remote and, compared to some other states, we are. While we have plenty of large towns filled with restaurants and things to do, we do have the benefit of being fairly spread out. That means there are many areas here where there’s little to no light pollution. And that makes for some pretty incredible star gazing! This month that’s going to come in handy as a very special comet makes an appearance!
There’s been so much to be excited about in the night sky these last few weeks that we’re almost not surprised that there’s been a brand new comet identified for us to see!
The comet, officially named C/2020 F8 (SWAN), or Comet Swan, was discovered just a few months ago and it’s going to be zipping through the night sky this week. What makes it extra-exciting is the brightness it’s predicted to have.
You might remember a few months ago when scientists expected to see Comet Atlas in the sky. Unfortunately, that one dissipated before most people could catch a glimpse. But Comet Swan should be even more brightly visible without any issue of breaking apart.
First things first. Don’t plan on trying to catch a glimpse of something that resembles a swan. Unlike constellations the name here doesn’t relate at all to its shape.
The new comet, captured in images by the Solar Heliospheric Observer spacecraft on March 25, 2020, is actually named after the SWAN camera that took the photos.
So, when should you be ready? May 13th is when Comet Swan will be closest to Earth. That means we all have the best probability of seeing it with the naked eye that night. But if you miss it, continue to keep an eye out. The comet is so bright it could be visible through the end of May.
For the best chances of seeing it, choose a dark place with little artificial light. Folks in rural areas will be most likely to see it. But, even if you live in a more densely populated area, you should be able to see it from your backyard without any special tools.
To be sure it’s the comet, look for the typical greenish tint and a long blue tail that they have. Because comets are made primarily of ice, they have a different color and look than asteroids or other star-like things in the sky.
Astronomy folks are predicting that this will be the best comet to see with the naked eye in 2020, so be sure to try for a sighting!
If you’re excited to see this incredible celestial event you can get up-to-the-minute information on Comet C-2020 F8 SWAN’s location from The Sky Live.
