Calling all night sky enthusiasts – here’s something you’ll definitely want to know about. Right now, there’s a comet hurtling 240,000 miles per hour, 78 million miles above the Earth. And in the early hours of tomorrow morning, you might be able see it with your very own eyes. Experts only found out about the existence of the comet, known as Nishimura (or C/2023 P1), last month after it was discovered by an amateur astronomer in Japan.
This week is your only chance to see the comet before it begins another four-century-long lap around the solar system. So, here’s everything you need to know.
What is a comet?
Sometimes referred to as ‘cosmic snowballs’, comets orbit the sun and are a combination of frozen gases, dust and rock.
As they soar closer to the sun, they are subject to blasts of radiation, which releases gases and debris and results in their iconic glowing tails.
When can I see the Nishimura comet?
Tuesday, September 12 is when you’re most likely to catch the comet, though some stargazers may be able to see it before then.
What time will the Nishimura comet be visible in the UK?
Unfortunately, seeing the comet involves getting up and out of bed pretty early. You’ll have to be awake and looking to the skies between 4am and 6am tomorrow (Sep 12) morning to have a chance of seeing it.
How can I see the comet?
Look towards the Leo constellation in the north. If you are in an area with minimal light pollution and obstruction from trees or buildings, there is a chance you will be able to see it with the naked eye.
Dust off your binoculars or telescope if you’re keen to get a closer look. BBC Sky at Night says that it’s easy to over-exaggerate just how bright the spectacle will be. It writes: ‘The best we can hope for is that after rounding the Sun and drifting up into the evening sky, P1 will be bright enough to see with the naked eye as an elongated smudge low in the west, as twilight deepens.’
What’s special about the Nishimura comet?
This comet is super rare, taking around 437 years to make one lap around the solar system. That means that this is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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