This week, the universe is delivering a cosmic gift. A newly discovered comet will swoop down towards Earth and say: Hey before leaving the neighborhood of our planet Over 400 years. Green Comet C/2023 P1, or “Nishimura,” is already visible in the predawn sky, but it will become brighter over the weekend and should be visible even without a telescope or telescope. binoculars.
How to see Comet Nishimura
If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you’ll need to get up early or stay up late to see the comet. In September 10, goes up at 5 a.meter. It will appear every morning near sunrise until September 17th., when you become invisible due to the glare of the sun. Tuesday, September 12 is the sweet spot. It’s the night Nishimura approaches Earth—Just 78 million miles from your home.
To spot the comet, look for the Sickle of Leo on the east-northeast horizon about an hour before sunrise. Mr. Nishimura appears near Venus. As the days go byThe observation window becomes shorter and shorter, and the comet appears lower on the horizon. Until finally it became invisible due to the sun.
Seeing this comet is literally a once-in-a-lifetime event. If you miss it, you have to wait 2 minutesMr. Nishimura’s return trip is number 435 (assuming it is not captured by the sun’s gravity and destroyed in the meantime) (Unlikely, but possible).
Can you see Comet Nishimura without binoculars?
Nishimura should be large and bright enough to be seen with the naked eye if the sky is clear and there is little light pollution. But even under such perfect conditions, it’s barely visible. You’ll get better results if you view it with binoculars, a telescope, or a camera designed for astronomy. With the right equipment, you should be able to see the comet’s green aura and take long exposures to make its long tail more noticeable. (check out Beginner’s Guide to Astronomical Equipment by Lifehacker If you are interested in stargazing. )
History of the discovery of Comet Nishimura
Hideo Nishimura, for whom the comet is named, discovered this object in August. 11, 2023. Mr. Nishimura was an amateur astronomer who took the first image of a comet using his 30-second exposure setting on a home digital camera.
Astronomers are still not sure, but Eearth’s Passing through the path of Comet Nishimura may be the cause of the “Surgid meteor shower” seen every December.