2023-08-18 21:41:02
On August 11, Japanese amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura detected a bright object very close to the Sun. No one had seen it before because the object was lost in the glare of our star. And, good news, it turned out to be a brand new bright comet! On August 15, the Small Planets Center officially confirmed the discovery and named the comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura).
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What does comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) currently look like?
The comet is currently in the constellation Gemini. It has reached a magnitude of 9.4 and is gradually brightening. The comet’s tail is lengthening and is now nearly 8′ long. C/2023 P1 can be observed with a 6-inch amateur telescope a few hours before dawn.
What does the name of C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) mean?
The name of the comet contains data on the place and time of its first observation:
The letter C indicates a non-periodic comet – comets of this type originate in the Oort cloud and may pass through the solar system only once or take 200 to thousands of years to orbit the Sun;
“2023 P1” means that the comet was discovered in 2023, during the first half of August (this corresponds to the letter P in the IAU comet naming systemand was the first such object discovered during this period;
“Nishimura” means that the discovery was made by Hideo Nishimura, the Japanese astronomer.
To easily find the comet, use one of the stargazing apps, Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight:
Tap the magnifying glass on the main screen. Type “Nishimura” and choose the appropriate result. The app will show where the comet is on the sky map. Tap the compass or point your device to the sky. The screen will match your sky in real time. Follow the arrow to see the comet on the screen, then look in that direction in the sky to spot it!
Where to find C/2023 P1 (Nishimura)?
Here is the path of the comet for the near future:
August 26 : C/2023 P1 (mag 9.2) enters the constellation of Cancer.
September 5 : C/2023 P1 (mag 6.9) enters the constellation Leo.
September 7 : C/2023 P1 (mag 6.3) passes at 0°16′ from the star Ras Elased Australis (mag 3.0) in the constellation Leo.
September 9 : C/2023 P1 (mag 5.6) passes at 0°20′ from the star Adhafera (mag 3.4) in the constellation of Leo.
September 13: C/2023 P1 (mag 4.3) reaches its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 0.29 AU in the constellation Leo.
September 15 : C/2023 P1 (mag 3.7) passes at 0°10′ from the star Denebola (mag 2.1) in the constellation of Leo.
September 16 : C/2023 P1 (mag 3.4) enters the constellation Virgo.
September 18 : C/2023 P1 (mag 3,2) reaches perihelion in the constellation Virgo.
September 22 : C/2023 P1 (mag 4.3) passes 1°30′ from the star Porrima (mag 2.7) in the constellation Virgo.
In apps Sky Tonight et Star Walk 2the comet’s trajectory and brightness are constantly updated with the latest astronomical data, giving you the most accurate and up-to-date view of it.
When is the best time to see C/2023 P1 (Nishimura)?
The comet is expected to reach magnitude 4.9 on September 11th. It’s bright enough to observe C/2023 P1 with the naked eye. So take your chance! The comet will be visible a few hours before dawn in the constellation Leo. It will get even brighter over the next few days as it reaches perihelion, but will also be closer to the Sun in the sky, making it harder to spot.
C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) at perihelion on September 18
On September 18, C/2023 P1 will reach its closest point to the Sun, called perihelion. It will be really close to our star, at a distance of regarding 0.9 AU. At that time, C/2023 P1 might be as bright as 3,2 magnitudewhich is visible to the naked eye. The comet will only be regarding 12° from the Sun in the sky, so you won’t have much time to observe it. Locate C/2023 P1 at sunset in the constellation Virgo. People from the northern hemisphere will have the best view. It’s still possible that the comet will disintegrate when it reaches its closest point to the Sun, so keep tracking it.
By mid-October, C/2023 P1 will once more become visible to the telescope as it moves away from the Sun. In a few months, in February 2024, another bright comet, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), will enter the scene.
Conclusion
The newly discovered comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) might be visible to the naked eye by mid-September. Don’t miss your chance to see it! Download a stargazing app like Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight which can help you find the comet in the sky right now.
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