13 centuries will pass before Comet Lemmon is visible again from Earth.

THUNDER BAY —  If you miss it now, you will lose your only opportunity. 

Comet Lemmon is streaking away from Earth and won’t return until about 1,300 years from now.

Thunder Bay amateur astrophotographer Joey Mastrangelo is among several area residents who have posted photos of the celestial showstopper on social media.

“This comet is very bright. It was very simple to spot, and you don’t have to stay up late,” he told Newswatch. “You can see it just after sunset if you look west.”

Mastrangelo advised looking for the Big Dipper, and to follow the direction of its handle to a bright star, above and to the left of which Lemmon can be seen.

The comet was discovered in January of this year by the Mount Lemmon Survey near Tucson, Arizona.

Mastrangelo posted an image captured in his backyard over a one-minute period with a Starfield telescope and ZWO camera.

“It’s pretty amazing, the technology we have in our hands,” he said, but added that it can also be seen with binoculars, or — away from the city lights — even with the naked eye.

Local professional photographer Kay Lee posted an image he obtained on the weekend in Neebing using a telephoto lens and a special mount that follows Earth’s rotation.

“You can kind of take a photo without stars being streaky,” he explained to Newswatch.

He wrote that he’s been busy lately, and was worried he might not get to see it, but “Luckily, Mother Nature gave us a clear night on my birthday.”

Comet Lemmon can be found on the western to northwestern horizon within 30 to 90 minutes after sunset

The prime viewing period is coming to an end,  as it will now appear lower and lower in the sky, making it increasingly difficult to spot in the coming days.