Comet 220P/McNaught has had two intense outbursts this summer, causing it to shine 20,000 times brighter than normal. The comet completes one orbit around the sun every 5.5 years and reached its closest point to the sun, called perihelion, on June 14. Solar heating usually increases a comet’s activity by turning volatile ices directly into gas, which releases dust that reflects sunlight. This process is what makes comets visible from Earth. During its most recent perihelion passage, Comet 220P/McNaught experienced two dramatic outbursts that significantly increased its brightness. This made the comet, which is usually very faint, temporarily visible to stargazers using binoculars, telescopes, or cameras. While the comet is expected to dim as it moves farther from the sun, it’s possible that another outburst could brighten it again in the coming weeks. According to the Comet Observation Database, managed by the Crni Vern observatory, Comet McNaught currently has a brightness, or magnitude, of +9.2. This makes it challenging to see with just binoculars unless conditions are ideal, but it can be observed with small telescopes under dark skies. It may appear as a faint, diffuse patch of light against the background stars. To locate Comet 220P/McNaught in early September, look east around midnight local time to find the constellation Taurus rising in the late summer sky. Identify the "V" shape of the Hyades star cluster at the center of Taurus. The comet will be near the magnitude 3.59 binary star system Omicron Tauri, which is two stars away from the tip of the "V." The comet will be easier to spot during the dark nights around the new moon on Sept. 10-11, which will also be a great time for long-exposure photography. Astrophotographer Osama Fathi captured a stunning image of Comet McNaught in the skies above Egypt on Aug. 15. During the two-hour session, a meteor unexpectedly passed very close to the comet in one frame, creating a rare and beautiful moment. Comets are known for their unpredictability, and Fathi hopes that Comet 220P will continue to surprise observers with changes in its brightness and activity in the coming weeks. Another detailed image of Comet McNaught was created by astrophotographer Dan Bartlett, who captured a mosaic showing the comet’s journey through the constellation Cetus. The images, taken from June Lake, California, between Aug. 6 and 26, show how the comet’s coma and tail changed after its outburst on Aug. 5. These images highlight the comet’s dynamic and evolving nature as it travels through the solar system.