Comet NEOWISE Mosaic

November 02, 2020

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Photographers: Petr Horálek; Tomáš Slovinský
Summary Authors: Petr Horálek; Tomáš Slovinský

Featured above is a mosaic showing the path of Comet NEOWISE this past summer as it graced the skies above the Tatras Mountains of Slovakia. The first image, shown at far right was acquired on July 9, 2020, and the last, at far left, on August 26, 2020. In an effort to minimize clouds we traveled each day/night, hauling our equipment with us, to select the best possible viewing sites.

Note that the comet’s path across the northwestern horizon appears to fit the shape of the Tatras Mountains. The Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences is located in the Tatras as is the Skalnaté Pleso Observatory. Czechoslovak astronomer Antonín Mrkos discovered several comets from this observatory. Note that the Big Dipper is at center, just above the comet, and the North Star (Polaris) at upper right-center.

Image Details: Mosaic images, color corrected and calibrated, acquired from July 9, 2020 through August 26, 2020.