Comet NEOWISE spotted by NASA spacecraft

A newly discovered comet is streaking past Earth, providing a stunning nighttime show after buzzing sun and expanding its tail.

Comet Neowise — brightest comet visible from rrn Hemisphere in a quarter-century — swept within Mercury's orbit a week ago.

Its close proximity to sun caused dust and gas to burn off its surface and create an even bigger debris tail.

w comet is headed our way, with closest approach in two weeks.

NASA's Neowise infrared telescope discovered comet in March.

Scientists involved in mission said comet is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) across.

Its nucleus is covered with sooty material dating back to origin of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago.

comet will be visible across rrn Hemisphere until mid-August, when it heads back toward outer solar system.

While it's visible with naked eye in dark skies with little or light pollution, biculars are needed to see long tail, according to NASA.

It will be about 7,000 years before comet returns

NASA official says it is brightest comet since mid-1990s for stargazers in rrn Hemisphere.