A new green comet Nishimura was found by a Japanese amateur astronomer named Hideo Nishimura on August 11. This comet, named Comet Nishimura after its discoverer, is visible now for the first time in over 400 years.
Comets are like icy leftovers from when our solar system was formed. They usually stay far from the sun and are invisible to us. But sometimes, one gets closer to the sun, and as it heats up, it releases dust and dirt, creating a tail we can see from Earth.
Finding comets has become tricky with automated telescopes, but Nishimura’s discovery was unique. He found it before any space telescopes did, showing his dedication.
To spot this comet, you’ll need to be in the northern hemisphere and look east before sunrise. The best chance to see it is on Tuesday morning when it’s closest to Earth. It will be closest to the sun on September 17, and later visible from the southern hemisphere. Look in the Leo constellation with binoculars or a small telescope.
Don’t expect to see a green comet with your eyes; it appears white. The green color only shows up in photos.
This comet orbits the sun every 430 years, so it was last seen in the late 1500s. The next opportunity to see it from Earth will be in the 2450s.