By Dana Zia
I’ve been up late the last week viewing the awe inspiring comet Neowise. I have never observed a comet much less fallen in love with a one but I think I’m having relationship with Neowise. If you haven’t gotten out to view it, I highly suggest as I have seen my lovely comet fading slowly over the last few days.
This comet was just discovered on March 27, which is rather surprising in this technological era. Throughout astrology history, comets have been seen as messengers from afar. Like all celestial bodies, they bring energy and with their dramatic sweep across the heavens, powerful energy. In ancient times, they were seen as bad news on the way but also had been seen as the birth of new thoughts and changes. I choose to embrace the latter particularly since Neowise was discovered right around the same time Saturn entered Aquarius. Saturn in Aquarius is a great time for the rebuilding of our culture with innovative and pioneering new ideas that serve the whole.
Neowise, was very unromantically named after NEO (near earth object) and the WISE telescope (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) that it was first discovered through. But to me the name means new wisdom. I feel its message is one of hope that is desperately needed in these very toxic times. Comets have been called “broom stars” by Chinese astrologers because they are believed to sweep the energy clean and clear up the dirty energy of the planet. Boy howdy do we need that! Enter stage NW exactly what we need right now, an energy sweeper to clean up some of this disorder.
This really resonates with me as I look at that bright tail of light sweeping across the sky and think, we are but mere ants in the big picture. The last time this comet zoomed by, humans were barely figuring out how to farm and day to day survival was a challenge. Here Neowise is visiting us again as we are locked in a desperate plight of survival…again. It reminds us that there is so much more to life than the chaos we have created and are mucking about in. It calls us to look up and accept its message of hope and eternal beauty. I invite you to come behold the energy sweeper that will lift you up. What message does it bring for you?
Neowise is in the Western sky right below the dipper of Ursa Major. It is best to view it after the LOOOONG summer twilight fades into darkness around 11pm. At first, it is hard to see it with the naked eye, then slowly you’ll see a blurry tail — just barely. Binoculars are the best way to view it, so bring a pair, even if they’re something you got out of a cereal box. As soon as you spot the blurry tail with your naked eye, then bring your binoculars up to your eyes without losing sight of the comet. When it comes into view, I hope you experience the thrill I got my first viewing! It has an orbit that takes 6,800 years to complete so I think it is fair to say we will not be seeing it again. (At least in this life time.) So get out there and get some new wisdom from our messenger that is just passing through …