                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2023 September 9
   A comet is shown with its green coma on the bottom right and a long and
   structured ion tail flowing diagonally across the image toward the top
       left. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                            Comet Nishimura Grows
                      Credit & Copyright: Peter Kennett

   Explanation: Comet Nishimura is growing. More precisely, the tails
   C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) are growing as it nears the Sun. Discovered only
   last month, the comet is already near naked eye brightness as it now
   moves inside the Earth's orbit. The comet will be nearest the Earth
   next week, but nearest the Sun the week after -- on September 17.
   Speculation holds that expelled ice and dust from Comet Nishimura's
   last visit to the inner Solar System may have created the Sigma Hydrids
   meteor shower which peaks yearly in December. If so, then this meteor
   shower may become more active, refreshed with new comet debris.
   Pictured, Comet Nishimura was captured from Edgewood, New Mexico, USA
   four nights ago, showing a long ion tail structured by interactions
   with the Sun's wind. Look for this comet near your eastern horizon just
   before sunrise for the next few mornings, but very near your western
   horizon just after sunset next week -- as its coma continues to
   brighten and its tails continue to grow.

         Gallery: Selected Comet Nishimura images submitted to APOD
                    Tomorrow's picture: person, moon, sun
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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