Comet McNaught Dazzles Summer Skies, Then Fades — How to Spot It Now

Comet 220P/McNaught brightened dramatically this summer due to two near-sun outbursts around its perihelion, reaching about magnitude +9.2 and becoming visible with binoculars or a small telescope; it is expected to fade as it moves away from the Sun, though another outburst could brighten it again in the coming weeks. The comet travels Taurus, near Omicron Tauri in the Hyades’ vicinity, and will be easiest to spot around the new moon on Sept. 10–11 under dark skies, ideal for long-exposure astrophotography.