A rare green comet, named Comet Nishimura, is making its way through the Northern Hemisphere sky. The comet, which was discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer in August, is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on September 12, coming within 78 million miles (125 million kilometers). This will be the closest that Comet Nishimura has come to Earth in over 400 years, and it will not return for another 400 years.
Comet Nishimura is about a kilometer in size (approximately half a mile) and is made up of a mixture of ice, dust, and rock. As the comet approaches the sun, the ice on its surface begins to vaporize, creating a tail of gas and dust. This tail can be seen for millions of miles behind the comet.
The best time to see Comet Nishimura is in the morning sky, before sunrise. Look for a faint green object in the northeastern horizon, near the constellation Leo. You may need binoculars or a telescope to see the comet, but even with the naked eye, you should be able to see its green tail.
Comet Nishimura is a rare opportunity to see a celestial visitor. If you have the chance to view it, I encourage you to do so. It is a truly memorable sight.
Here are some additional details about Comet Nishimura:
- It is named after the Japanese amateur astronomer who discovered it, Hideo Nishimura.
- It is a long-period comet, which means that it takes it many years to orbit the sun.
- The comet's green color is caused by the presence of cyanogen gas in its tail.
- Comet Nishimura is expected to become brighter as it approaches the sun, and it may even be visible to the naked eye in the days leading up to its closest approach.
- After its closest approach to Earth, Comet Nishimura will continue on its journey through the solar system. It is not expected to come close to Earth again for another 400 years.
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