Computerized telescope12/7/2023 Use those binoculars or a wide-field telescope at low power. Then look due west, about 25° to the right of the Moon, for Comet Nishimura at perihelion. Can you see Spica twinkling 3° or 4° lower right of it? Use binoculars. ■ Look very low in the west-southwest in early twilight for the waxing crescent Moon. ■ These closing days of summer always find the Sagittarius Teapot moving westward from south during evening, and tipping increasingly far over to the right as if pouring out summer's end. When looking for Mercury far below Venus in early dawn this week, don't confuse it with twinklier Regulus along the way. Not quite as far straight above Altair is smaller, fainter Sagitta, the Arrow. To check that you're looking at the right one, look for its little marker Tarazed, 3rd magnitude, about a finger-width at arm's length to its upper right.Ībout a fist to Altair's upper left is the little constellation Delphinus, the Dolphin, featured in the September Sky & Telescope, page 45. ■ The 1st-magnitude star very high in the south after dark is Altair. Your best chance is probably right around perihelion, September 17th and 18th, when it may be brightest.Īfter that it sinks lower and out of sight for us in the world's mid-northern latitudes, while fading rapidly. On the 16th, 17th, and 18th the comet creeps a bit to the left but no higher, and its tail tilts increasingly leftward. Its tail, if you can see any of it, will be pointing up. On Friday evening the 15th the comet will be just a few degrees high a little to the right of due west. It has brightened on schedule, but due to its low altitude in a twilight sky you'll need at least binoculars, as well as knowledge of exactly what bit of sky to examine for this tiny fuzzball. Comet Nishimura (2023 P1), swinging close by the Sun, has just moved from very low in the east at dawn to very low in the west at dusk. Comet Nishimura is at its brightest, but don't expect it to be naked-eye.
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