This is your last chance to see a once-in-a-lifetime comet in Mississauga

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Published July 26, 2020 at 3:16 pm

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If you haven’t witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event yet, fear not–you still have a few days to check it out. 

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada says there’s still time to catch the comet Neowise– the brightest comet visible from Earth in years–before it completely fades from view.

The society says while it will not be visible again until the 89th century, it should still be visible in Mississauga for the foreseeable future. 

That said, multiple media reports indicate the comet could fade out of view as July draws to a close. 

According to the society, the comet is visible from about 10 pm to 12 am in the northwestern sky, just below the Big Dipper. If you can find a dark spot with a clear view of the horizon to the north, you should be able to see it.

If you have a pair of binoculars, it’ll be even easier to catch it.

According to the society, Neowise is an icy rock nearly three miles in diameter that arrived at perihelion (reached the point of orbit closest to the sun) on July 3. 

“This means the comet is now tracking away from the sun. Comets are particularly difficult to predict, and it’s not known exactly how long we will be able to see it in our night sky,” the organization said in a news release. 

Photo Credit: Stellarium

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