Comet Viewed from Dyke Marsh
FODMer Ed Eder snapped a photo of the newly-discovered comet, C/2020 NEOWISE on July 13 at 4:40 a.m. Ed was looking from Dyke Marsh north-northeast toward the middle of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and up about 10 degrees. Ed suggests that after July 15, people should watch for it in the north-northwest sky at night about 80 minutes after sunset.
The July 13 Roanoke Times newspaper offered this viewing tip: “Skilled observers have reported that once you spot it with binoculars you can remove them and see the comet with the unaided eye. For beginners, using binoculars is a must if you want to see this comet’s split tail.”