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Astronauts caught a stunning natural light show this weekend from a comet that has been dazzling skywatchers on Earth as well.
That streaker, called Comet NEOWISE or C/2020 F3, first came on the scene at the end of March. At that point, the icy lump was quite faint in our skies, and astronomers weren't sure that would change. But as time has passed, the comet has brightened immensely, tantalizing skywatchers even after they were disappointed by two other recent comets that faded away.
"Last night's fireworks, for real. Because Science," NASA astronaut Bob Behnken said in a tweet posted from the International Space Station on Sunday (July 5), the day after Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with artificial firework displays.
Related: Comet NEOWISE could give skywatchers a dazzling show this month. Here's what to know.
One of Behnken's colleagues on board the orbiting laboratory, Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, also photographed the comet, with its tail in stark brightness against the blackness of space seen over the glowing blue atmosphere of Earth.
Vagner commented particularly on Comet NEOWISE's stunning tail, the distinctive feature of comets compared to their rockier counterparts, asteroids. A comet's tail is formed by the sun's radiation pushing dust out of the fuzzy blob surrounding the comet as its ice warms and turns to gas.
Right now, Comet NEOWISE requires a good pair of binoculars to catch sight of in most locations, and skywatchers aren't sure yet whether the icy hunk will become so stunningly bright that it and its tail will be easily visible to the unaided eye. But the comet should dazzle throughout the month of July surrounding its closest approach to Earth, which occurs on July 22.
Both Vagner and Behnken will remain in orbit long enough to watch that close approach from space. Behnken, who arrived aboard the first crewed SpaceX Crew Dragon on May 31, is scheduled to return to Earth with his NASA colleague Doug Hurley in early August. Vagner and two other astronauts will remain in orbit until October.
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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