Look To The Night Sky And Catch The Beautiful Comet Swan Over New Hampshire, Completely Visible To The Naked Eye

Compared to some other states, New Hampshire might be considered fairly remote. And while not every area is quiet, we do love that there are so many places to go that do feel off-the-grid. And that means there are lots of places without light pollution. These areas are the best for seeing the night sky clearly and this month that will certainly come in handy!

The last super moon of the year took place last week, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other reasons to look up at the night sky here in New Hampshire. This week we’ll have the chance to spot a newly identified comet whizzing above our heads.

C/2020 F8 (SWAN), otherwise known as Comet Swan, was seen for the first time in March 2020. And while that’s exciting all on its own, astronomy professionals say this comet is one of the brightest we’ll see.

A few months ago scientists told us about Comet Atlas. However, we never had a chance to see it as it broke apart and disappeared before being close enough to the earth. Unlike Atlas, Comet Swan promises to be brightly visible and there’s no worry about it breaking apart.

But why the unusual name? The new comet was captured in images by the Solar Heliospheric Observer spacecraft on March 25, 2020 and it gets its name from the SWAN camera that took the photos.

Comet Swan is expected to be at its closest distance to Earth on May 13th. Being so close means we should be able to see it clearly without the need for any tools. But, if you miss it, continue to keep your eyes peeled. This comet is so bright it could be visible through the end of May.

As with all night sky happenings, the best way to spot something special is by avoiding any light. So, stick to rural areas if you can. But, given how bright Comet Swan is expected to be, you should have no trouble viewing it from your own backyard.

To discern Comet Swan from other bright stars in the sky, keep an eye out for a greenish tint and a long blue tail which is typical of comets. Because they’re primarily made 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!

You can track Comet C-2020 F8 SWAN’s location in real-time by visiting The Sky Live. Now, just keep your fingers crossed for clear weather! There's actually a lot to look forward to this time of year here. In fact, thousands of singing peepers are a welcome sound of normalcy here in New Hampshire.