Can you observe the newly discovered "Comet Nishimura" closest approach to the Sun in August?

Highlights: Comet Nishimura, a newly discovered comet by amateur astronomers in Shizuoka Prefecture, is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun on the 18th of this month, Japan time. Comet Nishimura is thought to orbit Sun with a period of about 470 years, and when it approaches the Sun, it gradually melts due to its heat, collapses, and is released together with gas and dust, so it appears to be vaguely enveloped in faint light. Comet was discovered by Hideo Nishimura (13), an amateur astronomer from Kakegawa City.

【NHK】Comet Nishimura, a newly discovered comet by amateur astronomers in Shizuoka Prefecture last month, is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun on the 18th of this month, Japan hours ...

Comet Nishimura, a newly discovered comet by amateur astronomers in Shizuoka Prefecture last month, is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun on the 18th of this month, Japan time, and is attracting attention as it may be possible to observe the Comet with its tail extended.

Can you observe closest approach to the Sun?
The characteristics of "Comet Nishimura" are

What is the outlook for the future?
notice
Mr. Nishimura, the discoverer: 60 years dedicated to the search for a comet
While setting the alarm that never stops ringing
The moment of discovery is

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Can you observe closest approach to the Sun?
The characteristics of "Comet Nishimura" are
What is the outlook for the future?
notice
Mr. Nishimura, the discoverer: 60 years dedicated to the search for a comet
While setting the alarm that never stops ringing
The moment of discovery is

Can you observe closest approach to the Sun?

"Comet Nishimura" was observed by Hideo Nishimura (13), an amateur astronomer from Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the 74th of last month, and when he applied to the International Astronomical Union, it was certified as a new comet.

According to NAOJ, it was invisible to the naked eye at the time of discovery, but it is increasing in brightness as it approaches the Sun toward the middle of this month, and it is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun on the 18th, Japan time.

There is a possibility that the "tail" of a comet can be observed in the sky at dawn or after sunset as it approaches, so enthusiasts from all over the country are trying to photograph it.

Photographed by Sada Tashiro on the morning of September 9

However, it is difficult to find it with the naked eye due to its low altitude and bright sky, and after the 23rd of this month, it will not be possible to observe from the Japan for the time being even if you use a telescope or binoculars.

The person in charge of NAOJ says, "Depending on the activity of the comet, it may be easier to see, and if you set the camera under appropriate conditions, you may be able to take pictures, so if you are good at it, please give it a try."

The characteristics of "Comet Nishimura" are

According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, a cometer is a small celestial body with a body of several kilometers to several tens of kilometers, and about 8% of it is made of ice.

Comet Nishimura is thought to orbit the Sun with a period of about 470 years, and when it approaches the Sun, it gradually melts due to its heat, collapses, and is released together with gas and dust, so it appears to be vaguely enveloped in faint light.

In the photo, the gas component contained in the comet appears to shine, so it may appear greenish.

What is the outlook for the future?

Comet Nishimura is expected to have a brightness of 9.12 to 4.5 magnitude visible to the naked eye from the 3th to the 5th of this month, but it is sometimes difficult to observe even with telescopes and binoculars because the altitude is low even when it rises in the sky and the sky becomes dim just before sunrise or just after sunset.

Then, from the 14th to the 23rd, there is a possibility that you will be able to observe or photograph it from a low position in the sky in the evening just a short time after sunset.

notice

Mr. Nishimura, the discoverer: 60 years dedicated to the search for a comet

"There may be a new star that humanity has not yet seen,"

said Hideo Nishimura, 74, of Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

As an amateur astronomer, he has discovered two new stars in the past, and this is his third discovery.

Hideo Nishimura (The image below is provided by himself)

Mr. Nishimura was born in 1947. My passion for finding a comet began when I was in junior high school.

In 1963, when Kaoru Ikeya, an amateur astronomer, came across a report that he had discovered a new comet, he learned how to search for a comet from a book given to him by a school teacher, and became fascinated by astronomical observation.

Despite the fact that he had already decided which high school to go to, Nishimura declared to the principal at the time, "I want to observe the stars, so I will stop going to high school and work." Mr. Nishimura's family could not afford to buy a telescope.

Although he was advised by the principal and homeroom teacher who were surprised, he was determined and ended up getting a job instead of going on to higher education. I spent my starting salary to buy telescope parts and use my own equipment for astronomical observations.

While setting the alarm that never stops ringing

Since then, while working as an employee of JA Kakegawa City, I have been searching for a sexist almost every day.

After work, I would go home and sleep, but in the summer, I would wake up at 1 a.m., and if it was sunny, I would go out and shoot until about 4:30 a.m.

When I was younger, I bought an alarm that wouldn't stop ringing, and I kept going while rubbing my sleepy eyes.

However, no new star was found, and <> years have passed since then.

The moment of discovery is

The first discovery was in 1994.

While observing with special binoculars, a new star was discovered.

Others found it around the same time, so it was named "Comet Nakamura-Nishimura-Mackholtz".

The people around me have shown understanding of my activities, and the people at work have increased their support.

Stone monument commemorating "Comet Nakamura, Nishimura and Mackholtz"

However, around this time, the search for comet by public institutions became active, and it became difficult for amateur astronomers to make new discoveries.

Since 2000, we have found 31 "novae" that suddenly appear, but we have not been able to discover comet stars for more than 20 years.

Two years ago, I finally discovered a new comet alone for the first time. He says he was moved like never before.

"I won't be able to find the next one even if it takes me a lifetime,"

so I doubted myself that morning.

2, August 2023, 8:13 am.

In the clouds, a greenish celestial object was shining into a camera lens of just under 3 mm.

The celestial body in the center of the screen is the newly discovered "Comet Nishimura"

Is it really new?"

When I compared it with the past images on my computer, I found that it was a celestial object that did not exist before.

After reporting to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), observers around the world made confirmatory observations and confirmed that this object was a new star.

Mr. Nishimura told us in an interview:

"If I hadn't observed it that morning... I am now looking back on my past days. At the same time, I was lucky and supported by many people to make it this far. The universe will continue to change its appearance day by day. It will be difficult to find any more stars, but my next dream is to find another one."