The Ancients

The summer comet of 2020 – officially, C/2020 F3 NEOWISE – captivated stargazers and inspired artists across the Northern Hemisphere during the month of July. It was bright enough to be seen from city centers, but shone most awesomely in darker skies. Here, the comet soars above Breakneck Ridge, Mt. Beacon, and the eastern Hudson Highlands, around 3:30 am EDT. It was a powerful of an ancient mountain range, featuring the oldest exposed rock in New York, and a comet born at the very beginning of the solar system.

Within a half hour, the delicate dust tail would begin yielding to twilight, fading from view altogether a half hour after that. After a memorable but fleeting morning spent with Comet NEOWISE, one anticipates the next clear night, hoping to catch another glimpse. But as we come to terms with the inevitability of twilight, we also recognize that the comet is speeding out of the inner solar system, not to return for thousands of years.

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The First Look

My first glimpse of the summer comet came on the morning of July 9th, about one week after it had reemerged from the Sun's glare much brighter and more robust than anticipated. As early observations showed continued promise, persistent cloudiness, reinforced by the passage of Tropical Storm Fay, denied New York sky-watchers a look at the exciting new comet. On this morning, low stratus clouds continued to blanket the Hudson Valley, but satellite imagery showed a clearing over the eastern Catskills. My arrival at the Ashokan Reservoir was met with mist, a nearly full Moon, and the onset of twilight – poor conditions for comet hunting. Just when I began to fear a fruitless trip, I noticed a smudge of light poking out from behind the clouds. A few test exposures revealed that I was witnessing Comet NEOWISE for the first time, and I was thrilled. The comet's tail quickly became unmistakable as it soared higher into the dawn sky. This, my favorite photograph of the morning, was also one of the last captured before the sunrise ushered in another day.

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Close to Home

After a couple long nights of executing previsualized photos, I decided to take a more leisurely approach one morning. Armed with my camera and every lens I might have conceivably used, I began strolling around the neighborhood, hoping an opportunity would present itself. It took a great deal of willpower to not simply lock in my camera and begin snapping as soon as the comet rose above the trees, but my self-control paid off just as the sky began to brighten with twilight. I'm not sure whether I noticed the comet or its reflection first when I chanced upon this composition; I'm even less sure that it matters. I captured the scene to the best of my ability and headed for home, satisfied with the morning's efforts – and grateful that, unlike on previous days, no hour-long drive stood between me and my bed.

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Many Lights

By the third week of July, Neowise had begun to slowly fade. But with a new moon, higher comet altitude, and more reasonable viewing hour, the show went on. Here, I captured the comet – diffused by thin clouds – alongside the International Space Station, a carpet of flashing fireflies, and even a faint meteor, all set against a backdrop of Stissing Mountain. Some of these elements were anticipated, others serendipitous.

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