Comet NEOWISE in the West Country night sky

Comet NEOWISE above Glastonbury Tor Credit: Brad Wakefield

During most of July we were able to see something quite special and quite rare in the night sky. A comet so bright it could be seen without a telescope, just the naked eye. The reason NEOWISE was rare was due to its brightness and relative closeness to Earth. It was still over a 100 million km away (some 400 times further than the moon) at it's closest pass, but relative to space that's not far at all.

Comet NEOWISE above Budleigh Salterton Credit: Gary Holpin
Comet NEOWISE above Burnham-on-Sea Credit: David Whatley

The last time we saw something as bright was Comet Hale-Bopp back in 1997, and the next time we'll see something similar won't be for nearly 7000 years, so here are some of your incredible photos from across the south west in case you didn't manage to catch a glimpse.

Comet NEOWISE above Rose Ash, north Devon Credit: Dave Dummett
Comet NEOWISE above Burnham-on-Sea Credit: David Whatley
Comet NEOWISE seen from the Mendips Credit: Josh Dury
Comet NEOWISE above Carn Brea, with noctilucent cloud Credit: Stuart Cornell
Comet NEOWISE over Exeter Credit: John Maclean
Comet NEOWISE above the skies in Colyton, East Devon Credit: Lycia Moore
Comet NEOWISE over Bodmin Moor Credit: Chris Barnard