Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Aug 29, 2023 20:19:05 GMT -6
2023 Comet Nishimura - C/2023 P1
A new comet has been discovered by a Japanese Astronomer Hideo Nishimura on 12 August 2023 with the potential of brightening. Currently at +7th Magnitude, it is beyond naked eye visibility and strictly a telescopic object just off the Constellation of Gemini, a very early morning target presently.
But this will NOT be a great naked eye comet for the average city sky lover to enjoy. More on this in a bit.
Nishimura discovered this comet with a digital Canon camera and a 200mm lens. He has discovered two other comets to date. Good for him for doing the old fashion way.
Can you view it?
Unless you have a telescope and a good ability to navigate the early morning skies....you can skip this one, especially in Chicago. The trajectory of this Oort cloud visitor will follow the plane of the Solar System, keeping it low to the Earth's horizon and competing with the Sun's glare.
It is now an pre-dawn object. hanging out with Gemini & Caner...
This comet is exhibiting a Carbon fingerprint, causing a nice green coma glow, but that is thru a camera time exposure for now. If it survives it's close brush on 17 September with the Sun, it won't return until 2317.
Ignore the media hype, but if it does unexpectedly outburst, (some say a +2 mag), the Chicago Astronomer will set-you straight and will let you know.
*Images courtesy of Sky & Telescope
Astro Joe
A new comet has been discovered by a Japanese Astronomer Hideo Nishimura on 12 August 2023 with the potential of brightening. Currently at +7th Magnitude, it is beyond naked eye visibility and strictly a telescopic object just off the Constellation of Gemini, a very early morning target presently.
But this will NOT be a great naked eye comet for the average city sky lover to enjoy. More on this in a bit.
Nishimura discovered this comet with a digital Canon camera and a 200mm lens. He has discovered two other comets to date. Good for him for doing the old fashion way.
Can you view it?
Unless you have a telescope and a good ability to navigate the early morning skies....you can skip this one, especially in Chicago. The trajectory of this Oort cloud visitor will follow the plane of the Solar System, keeping it low to the Earth's horizon and competing with the Sun's glare.
It is now an pre-dawn object. hanging out with Gemini & Caner...
This comet is exhibiting a Carbon fingerprint, causing a nice green coma glow, but that is thru a camera time exposure for now. If it survives it's close brush on 17 September with the Sun, it won't return until 2317.
Ignore the media hype, but if it does unexpectedly outburst, (some say a +2 mag), the Chicago Astronomer will set-you straight and will let you know.
*Images courtesy of Sky & Telescope
Astro Joe
