I just went over to Warwick racecourse and saw Comet NEOWISE through my binoculars. They don’t have a whole lot of magnification (the point with astronomy optics is to gather more light, not so much to zoom in) so it was a blurry patch of sky against a fairly bright background. Warwick is very light, and is close to plenty of other light places.
It’s been a long time since I really connected with astronomy. I think when I was a student, some part of me correctly identified that it’s best not to have your hobby as your profession. I applied to a lot of astronomy, astrophysics and related courses, then when I actually attended a Physics course I took none of the astronomy options.
Astronomy is a community I no longer feel a member of, as with many communities that have come and gone over the years. It’s interesting and fascinating, with lots to learn and some beautiful imagery. Of course there’s also a sizeable financial outlay if you so choose, but it’s also possible to just take your eyes out and look up when it’s dark.