Stunning photo shows Comet Neowise over Balcombe Lake

Mark Leppard took several shots of the comet over Balcombe Lake and the Jack and Jill windmill.

The comet is heading past Earth and its closest approach is expected next Thursday July 23 – if you can call 64 million miles close.

Readers from across West Sussex have been sharing their photos of the comet.

Evan Pugh sent in a shot of the comet above Cissbury Ring, north of Worthing, which he took at around half past midnight.

Meanwhile Peter Merchant captured shots of the comet from Barns Green.

He said: “So much to see in the night sky at the moment, with the comet being the highlight.

“We also have planets that can been seen with binoculars and a meteor shower.

“It’s a good time to head out and look up.”

Announcing its discovery, NASA said: “A comet has suddenly become visible to the unaided eye.

“Comet C/2020 F3 (Neowise) was discovered in late March and brightened as it reached its closest approach to the Sun, inside the orbit of Mercury, late last week.

“The interplanetary iceberg survived solar heating, so far, and is now becoming closer to the Earth as it starts its long trek back to the outer Solar System.

“As Comet Neowise became one of the few naked-eye comets of the 21st century, word spread quickly, and the comet has already been photographed behind many famous sites and cities around the globe.”