If you’ve been wanting to get out and see Comet Nishimura for yourself, this week is likely your last chance.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Comet C/2023 P1 Nishimura has just a few days left before it moves closer to the sun and will no longer be visible in the pre-dawn hours.
To see it you’ll need to get up early, before the sun rises. Look to the east in the hour or so before dawn and find the Leo constellation; the comet will be making its way down the Lion’s tail this week but by Sept. 16 will be rising along with the sun. A stargazing app could be your best bet to locate it and determine if you’ll be able to see low enough to the horizon to spot the comet.
You’ll need an unobstructed view of the horizon in order to see the comet, which will be just eight degrees or so above the horizon on the morning of Sept. 13 (less than the width of your fist at arm’s length). It will be lower each morning at the same time until it vanishes from view into the glare of the sun.
Luckily, the nearly-dark waning crescent moon heading into September’s new moon should provide dark skies the next morning to help you spot Comet Nishimura.
Comet Nishimura was first discovered by amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura of Kakegawa City, Japan on Aug. 12. Nishimura was able to spot the comet before any of the larger automated telescope systems like the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) in Hawaii, which in itself is quite an accomplishment.
The path of Comet Nishimura has been outlined:
- Sept. 12: C/2023 P1 reaches its closest approach to the Earth at a distance of 0.85 AU and passes 1°38′ away from the star Zosma in the constellation Leo.
- Sept. 14: C/2023 P1 passes 0°6′ away from the star Denebola in the constellation Leo.
- Sept. 15: C/2023 P1 enters the constellation Virgo.
- Sept. 17: C/2023 P1 reaches perihelion in the constellation Virgo.
- Sept. 21: C/2023 P1 passes 1°23′ away from the star Porrima in the constellation Virgo.
Astrophotographers and skywatchers have been watching the comet with great interest throughout the past few months, even witnessing it lose its tail to a strong blast of solar wind in what is known as a disconnection event. Bible Prophecy teachers and many Christians are also interested in this comet as well. As previously mentioned here on Blazing Press, we’ve also noted the possible Biblical prophetic implications this comet has by detailing it at length in this article and on the livestream below:
