Across the Northern Hemisphere, now's the time to catch a new comet before it vanishes for 400 years

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A newly discovered comet is swinging through our cosmic neighborhood for the first time in more than 400 years.

Stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere should catch a glimpse as soon as possible — either this week or early next — because it will be another 400 years before the wandering ice ball returns.

The comet, which is kilometer-sized (1/2-mile), will sweep safely past Earth on Sept. 12, passing within 78 million miles (125 million kilometers).

Early risers should look toward the northeastern horizon about 1 1/2 hours before dawn — to be specific, less than 10 or so degrees above the horizon near the constellation Leo. The comet will brighten as it gets closer to the sun, but will drop lower in the sky, making it tricky to spot.

https://apnews.com/article/comet-northern-hemisphere-nishimura-200f8cc81140387177b3436c4c3a7663

[usonian]

1. Most articles are fluff, but these can help.

https://www.astronomy.com/observing/comet-nishimura-is-brightening-fast-see-it-now/

Comet Nishimura is brightening and moving fast: See it now!
Now is the time to pull out your binoculars, telescope, or camera. This brief but bright comet is only visible for another week.
By Alison Klesman | Published: September 6, 2023




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How to photograph a comet

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/how-to-photograph-a-comet

Top tips for photographing a comet, and how to capture comet images with scientific value.

[Igel]

2. Thanks.

Not like I'm not up then anyway. Out watering plants in the Sonoran Desert East that we euphemistically call "East Texas."

[msongs]

3. as I recall not one comet in my lifetime has proven to be more than a disappoint and lived up

to the hype

[Sympthsical]

5. McNaught was pretty crazy in 2007

But the only time to really see it in the U.S. was a little after dawn because it was in Sagittarius which is very, very low in the sky in winter. But even so, it was bright enough to be perceivable in the daylight along the southeastern horizon.

[usonian]

6. I got a pic of comet Neowise with a totally unsuitable camera (needed a telescope to do it right)

But I got it at 500mm efl. f/5.
Normally, I let the folks with big telescopes do the dirty work for me, but "just this once" I wanted my own photo.

Back to letting NASA take the pix!

[Wonder Why]

4. All comets look different. check this one out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Comet]