Comet Neowise was captured in the skies above west Dorset in this striking image.

The comet is visible in the skies this month and the latest person to photograph it was Steve Kourik who was out with his camera early on Saturday.

This picture was taken around 2.45am just north of Litton Cheney.

He said: "Comet Neowise was discovered earlier this year as it made its approach for a close pass of the Sun, as it did so it brightened considerably so that it is now the brightest comet this century to be visible in the northern hemisphere. It is now moving away from the Sun and will be visible earlier and earlier each night.

"I photographed it at 2.45 just north of Litton Cheney; the comet was in the lightening sky preceding the Sun. Also visible at that time was the very red planet, Mars, rising somewhat east of the comet. Saturn and Jupiter were also to be seen.

"Comet Neowise will gradually become easier to see as it will rise earlier each night unless it suddenly dims, something comets are prone to do."

The comet will reach its closest point to Earth on July 23 and it is going to be visible from anywhere in the UK for the rest of the month.

It is best viewed at about 2.30am in the north-east sky anywhere in the country.

During its closest approach to Earth the comet will be about 64 million miles away - or about 400 times further away than the Moon.

The comet was discovered by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or NEOWISE, on March 27.

Nasa says: “Since then, the comet — called comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE and nicknamed comet NEOWISE — has been spotted by several NASA spacecraft, including Parker Solar Probe, NASA’s Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory, the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and astronauts aboard the International Space Station.”

The space agency said the comet has become one of the few “naked-eye comets” of the 21st century after it “suddenly” became visible this week.

Have you spotted Comet Neowise in the skies over Dorset? We'd love to see your pictures. Email news@bridportnews.co.uk