Nanaimo space buffs dazzled by brightest comet in decades
NANAIMO — A rare show featuring a large, bright and resilient comet is capturing the attention of local stargazers.
A five kilometre long, recently discovered comet named Neowise is producing impressive bright streaks, VIU astronomy professor Dr. Gregory Arkos told NanaimoNewsNOW.
He said many analysts were initially skeptical the comet would last, referencing other recent promising meteoric formations of ice rock fizzling from the sun’s heat.
“Neowise looks like it’s delivering. It actually survived swimming around the sun and it brightened up and is now sprouting a tail and is in fact naked-eye visible,” an upbeat Arkos said.