{"id":257333,"date":"2023-08-29T21:45:15","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T20:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/blog\/comet-nishimura-2\/"},"modified":"2023-08-29T22:13:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T21:13:55","slug":"comet-nishimura-2023","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/en-uk\/blog\/comet-nishimura-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"See Newfound Comet Nishimura Before it’s Too Late!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A brand new comet is showing off in the night sky!<\/strong> On the evening of August 11-12th, Japanese amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura was watching the skies with his digital camera set up when a yet undiscovered comet graced his lens. This new comet, C\/2023 P1 (Nishimura), bears his name as a result. Not only is this discovery an inspiration for amateur astronomers everywhere, but C\/2023 P1 (Nishimura) \u2013 or Comet Nishimura<\/strong> for short \u2013 is a fascinating target for early risers in the Northern Hemisphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/KeiichiFukuiCometNishimura.jpeg” title_text=”KeiichiFukuiCometNishimura” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”75%” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”14px” min_height=”19.6px” custom_padding=”||26px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Comet Nishimura captured by Keiichi Fukui (Japan) with his Unistellar telescope.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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Comet Nishimura Flies Close to the Sun<\/b><\/h3>\n

This newfound comet is getting brighter as it nears its close approach to Earth on September 12, so now is the perfect time to watch it soar through the sky \u2013 by the time it\u2019s nearest to Earth, it will be quite low on the horizon. You\u2019ll have to get up early to spot it, as you can see it best in the hours before dawn, but it is well worth the loss of a little sleep!<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Comet Nishimura is quickly brightening in the morning sky and may be visible with the naked eye next month,\u201d says Dr. Franck Marchis, Chief Science Officer of Unistellar and Senior Planetary Astronomer with the SETI Institute. \u201dAs summer draws to a close, Comet Nishimura provides a splendid astronomical gift. Presently, it displays a captivating greenish coma, and its activity is expected to intensify as it nears its closest approach to the Sun on September 17. Be sure to gaze skyward at dawn, and take your telescope out to truly enjoy this celestial wanderer.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Comet Nishimura imaged and processed by Unistellar observer Anouchka N. <\/i><\/p>\n

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As Comet Nishimura gets brighter, it may indeed become a binocular object or even a naked-eye sight to those in dark skies.<\/strong> Predictions show it could reach 2nd magnitude (about the brightness of Polaris, the North Star) during its Solar approach, when it will be closer to the Sun than Mercury. By then, however, Comet Nishimura will be so close to the Sun that it will be difficult to see. So it\u2019s best to get your observations in while you still can! Especially since Comet Nishimura is sweeping so close to our star that its nucleus (the comet\u2019s icy core) may break up and in that case, it will be gone for good.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Observing Comet Nishimura now could certainly pay off – as the comet nears the Sun, it may show increases in activity and even an outburst, like in the case of Comet Pons-Brooks.<\/a> Members of the<\/strong> Unistellar Network stand a chance to witness such an outburst or, with some luck, even its disintegration.<\/strong> So take a bet on Comet Nishimura and point your telescope upwards while you still can!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Comet Nishimura through an eVscope live view (top), via Enhanced Vision (left) and with Nocturne (right). Captured by Aad Verveen (Netherlands).<\/i><\/p>\n

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How Can You Observe Comet Nishimura?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Even though comet C\/2023 P1 (Nishimura) was just discovered this month, you can still find it easily!<\/strong> Right now, it is visible to Northern Hemisphere observers, although it will become observable to the Southern Hemisphere in November if it survives its proximity to the Sun. Comet Nishimura is not in the Unistellar App catalog, but all you need to do is visit our <\/span>Comet Ephemeris Page<\/span><\/a> to contribute to this mission:<\/span><\/p>\n