A green comet will pass near Earth today at a distance of 125 million kilometers

the Comet Nishimura The newly discovered will pass near Earth today (12/09) at a distance 125 million kilometers, For the first time since then 400 And now years. This comet completes its orbit approximately every 430 to 440 years. The rare green comet was discovered by Japanese amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura last August.

the comet It will be visible throughout the Northern Hemisphere over the next two days. Comet Nishimura is one kilometer in diameter Visible to the naked eye – Although you will need to use equipment to see it well, because it is not very bright.

“You’ll need a good telescope to spot it, and you’ll also need to know where to look,” explained Paul Chodas, director of NASA’s Center for the Study of Near-Earth Objects.

The comet’s brightness will increase as it approaches the sun, and it will be at its closest point to our star on September 17 before it leaves the solar system. To observe it from the northern hemisphere, you must look to the northeastern horizon about an hour and a half before dawn.

If it survives its journey across the sun, the comet will be visible in the southern hemisphere by the end of the month. The last time this comet passed Earth was approx 430 years– About a decade or two ago Galilean He invented the telescope.

source: euronews