Newly Discovered Comet Nishimura to Be Visible as It Approaches Earth
A breathtaking celestial event is about to take place next week as a newly discovered comet, aptly named Comet Nishimura, will be visible as it flies by Earth. This dazzling celestial visitor was first observed by Japanese space photographer Hideo Nishimura in early August and has been increasing in brightness as it journeys through the inner solar system in an orbit around the sun.
On Tuesday, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth, passing within a distance of 78 million miles (125 million kilometers). However, it will get even closer to the sun, reaching a mere 21 million miles (nearly 34 million kilometers) on September 17.
According to astronomers, Comet Nishimura completes one orbit approximately every 430 to 440 years. Interestingly, there are no recorded comets during the same time frame as its last close approach to the sun, making it a rare celestial phenomenon.
Spotting this extraordinary comet will require binoculars and a dark sky away from the city lights. Its tail, which will always point away from the sun, appears greenish in photos but will appear nearly colorless or slightly pink through binoculars.
For those residing in the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be visible in the east-northeast horizon about half an hour before morning twilight. However, sighting the comet might be challenging as it will pass between Earth and the sun on Wednesday, making it difficult to see. Experts believe that the intense heat from the sun might pose a threat to the comet, but they remain hopeful that it will survive.
If Comet Nishimura manages to survive, it will emerge into the Southern Hemisphere’s morning sky in November, providing an awe-inspiring spectacle for sky gazers.
Comet Nishimura is not the only comet making its appearance in our night sky in the upcoming months. Over the next 16 months, several comets, including Comet Pons-Brooks, Comet Olbers, and Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, are expected to grace our celestial stage, offering an extraordinary visual feast for astronomy enthusiasts worldwide.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this rare celestial event and mark your calendars for next week’s close encounter with Comet Nishimura.
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