The Weather Network editorial team
Published on September 9, 2023 at 7:25 p.m
This is the only chance of your life to catch a glimpse of Comet Nishimura!
Discovered just a few weeks ago, the greenish comet Nishimura will make a remarkable passage in the skies of the Northern Hemisphere. It was named in honor of amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura, who discovered it.
The comet completes its orbit every 430 or 440 years, meaning this is its first visit near Earth since the late 16th century. The next passage is therefore expected to take place around the year 2450. This is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss!
If it continues to gain brightness, it is even possible that it will be visible to the naked eye until mid-September. If not, a simple pair of binoculars should suffice. It will reach its closest point to Earth on September 12, which may be the best time to admire it. A place without light pollution is therefore ideal to enjoy the show.
However, due to its angle relative to the Sun, there is a risk that its observation will be limited to dawn and dusk. Additionally, over time it will tend to move closer to the Sun, which will limit the possibilities. It will reach its closest point to our star around September 17th.