If you’ve been wanting to go out and see Comet Nishimura for yourself, this week is probably your last chance.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Comet Nishimura C/2023 P1 has a few days left before it moves closer to the Sun and will be out of sight before dawn.
If you want to see this ruin in the next 400 years, you’ll have to wake up early before the sun rises. Look to the east-southeast about an hour before dawn to find the constellation Leo. The comet will move down the Lion’s Tail this week, but will rise with the Sun by September 16th. A stargazing app is your best bet for locating a comet and determining whether you can see it low to the horizon and spot it.
Related: Is the newly discovered Comet Nishimura really visible to the naked eye?experts aren’t sure
To see this comet, you’ll need an unobstructed view of the horizon. On the morning of September 13th, the comet will be only about 8 degrees above the horizon (less than the width of your fist at arm’s length). It lowers at the same time every morning until it disappears from view in the glare of the sun.
Fortunately, the near-dark waning crescent moon heading into September’s new moon will provide dark skies in the mornings over the next few days, which should help spot Comet Nishimura.
Comet Nishimura is first discovered August 12th, by Mr. Hideo Nishimura, an amateur astronomer from Kakegawa City. Nishimura was able to discover the comet before larger automated telescope systems such as the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) in Hawaii. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Astrophotographers and skywatchers have been watching this comet with great interest over the past few months. I witnessed him lose his tail. This is caused by a strong gust of solar wind known as the so-called cutting phenomenon.
Comet Nishimura will be closest to the Sun on September 18th, known as perihelion. If the comet does not completely disintegrate due to solar radiation, it will orbit the sun and be visible to observers in the southern hemisphere. If that happens, it will be visible in the western sky at dusk toward the end of the month.
Want to see a wide swath of the night sky or take a closer look at Comet Nishimura while it’s still visible? Check out our guide to the best binoculars to find the best binoculars on the go.
Or if you want to get a closer look at comets and other things in the night sky, our guide to the best telescopes can help you find the right telescope for you.
If you want to take pictures of Comet Nishimura, or the night sky in general, check out our guide on how to photograph comets, as well as the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s note: If you have captured an image of Comet Nishimura and would like to share it with Space.com readers, please send your photo, comment, name and location to spacephotos@space.com.