Good Evening, NEOWISE

The Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) began transitioning from a predawn observing event to an evening one starting about Monday, July 13, 2020. My first attempt at photographic capture of the evening comet on July 13 was not a memorable one. I was never able to make it out with my eyes, couldn't find it with binoculars, and had conflict with drifting clouds. Once again though, long  exposures from my camera pulled it out--albeit dimly. Above, the camera looks northwest at 9:47 pm CDT from near East Robins Road and Alburnett Road in Marion, Iowa. 10 second exposure at f/4.5, ISO 160 and 34mm focal length.

Two evenings later and again only marginally successful results. Though the evening of Wednesday, July 15 began with a promising weather outlook, clouds began moving in just as the comet became visible in darkening skies. This image was one of the few I captured before clouds blocked the view. The comet was again dim because of the early evening hour. This is a northwest look from a pond in rural Shueyville, Iowa at 9:30 pm. 8 second exposure at f/4, ISO 160 and 35mm focal length.

Thursday, July 16, 2020. Clear skies and lower humidity--ideal comet viewing conditions. This view looks west from Bowman Woods Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 10:19 pm. On this night I could see  the comet with the naked eye, even with the light pollution in the background. 15 second exposure at f/5.3, ISO 400 and 48mm focal length.

10:32 pm. Near the top of Bowman Woods Park sledding hill, looking northwest over Bowman Woods Elementary School. 15 second exposure at f/5, ISO 500 and 25mm focal length.

10:44 pm. Closeup of Comet NEOWISE. 15 second exposure at f/5, ISO 500 and 46mm focal length.

10:45 pm. Similar view. 10 second exposure at f/5, ISO 800 and 46mm focal length.

10:48 pm. Another closeup. 15 second exposure at f/5.6, ISO 800 and 55mm focal length.

Following night, Friday, July 17, 2020. Mostly clear but oppressively humid and my camera lens fogged frequently. Distant clouds were seen along the northern horizon, but were moving away. My location on this night was from the grounds of Echo Hill Presbyterian Church north of Marion, Iowa. This image was captured at 9:58 pm and is a 15 second exposure at f/5, ISO 500, 26mm focal length.

10:18 pm. Same location. Foreground weeds were "light painted" by use of a flashlight. 15 second exposure at f/4.2, ISO 500 and 28mm focal length.

10:30 pm. My wife activated my camera's two second shutter delay and light painted the foreground in this image--including yours truly! 8 second exposure at f/4.2, ISO 800 and 28mm focal length.

10:36 pm. Comet NEOWISE in the northwest sky. 15 second exposure at f/4.2, ISO 800 and 28mm focal length.

10:44 pm. One last shot before calling it a night. 15 second exposure at f/4.2, ISO 800 and 28mm focal length. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.