Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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 August 21
      [2]A dark starfield is shown with a dim green blur in the middle.
   Faintly extending from the green blur is a tail toward the left. Please
             see the explanation for more detailed information.

                         Introducing Comet Nishimura
                     Credit & Copyright: [3]Dan Bartlett

   Explanation: Will Comet Nishimura become visible to the unaided eye?
   Given the unpredictability of comets, no one can say for sure, but it
   currently seems like a good bet. The comet was [4]discovered only ten
   days ago by Hideo Nishimura during 30-second exposures with a standard
   digital camera. Since then, [5]C/2023 P1 Nishimura has increased in
   brightness and its path across the inner [6]Solar System determined. As
   the comet dives toward the Sun, it will surely continue to [7]intensify
   and possibly become a naked-eye object in early September. A problem is
   that [8]the comet will also be angularly near the Sun, so it will only
   be possible to see it [9]near sunset or sunrise. The comet will get so
   [10]close to the Sun -- inside the orbit of [11]planet Mercury -- that
   its nucleus may [12]break up. [13]Pictured, Comet Nishimura was imaged
   three days ago from [14]June Lake, [15]California, [16]USA while
   sporting a green coma and a thin tail.

                     Tomorrow's picture: nebula unknown
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [28]Robert Nemiroff ([29]MTU) & [30]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([31]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [32]Specific rights apply.
              [33]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [34]ASD at [35]NASA / [36]GSFC,
                         [37]NASA Science Activation
                           & [38]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2308/CometNishimura_Bartlett_2062.jpg
   3. https://www.astrobin.com/users/h2ologg/
   4. http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iau/cbet/005200/CBET005285.txt
   5. https://www.universetoday.com/162802/comet-p1-nishimura-could-be-bright-over-the-next-few-weeks/
   6. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/our-solar-system/in-depth/
   7. http://aerith.net/comet/catalog/2023P1/2023P1.html
   8. https://earthsky.org/tonight/new-comet-c-2023-p1-nishimura-bright-august-september-october-2023/
   9. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61MnQVQct8L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
  10. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=700742702067209&set=a.419550426853106
  11. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-mercury/
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200416.html
  13. https://www.astrobin.com/t57un4/B/
  14. https://youtu.be/upj8BRfn0yU
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230820.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  21. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  26. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=230823
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230822.html
  28. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  30. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  31. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  34. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  37. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  38. http://www.mtu.edu/