西村彗星

2023年9月9日

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

西村彗星
影像提供与版权: Peter Kennett

说明: 西村彗星正在成长。更精确的说，随着西村彗星（C/2023P1 Nishimura）接近太阳，其彗尾正在增长。这颗刚在上个月发现的彗星，已经运行到地球的公转轨道之内，目前的亮度也接近肉眼可见。在下星期，这颗彗星将来到离地球最近的位置，然后再过一周的9月17日抵达近日点。根据猜测，西村彗星上次造访太阳系内围时所释出的冰和尘埃，可能造就了极大期在每年12月的长蛇σ流星雨。如此为真，那么随着新的彗星碎片补充进来，这群流星雨可能会变得更加活跃。上图为4晚之前摄于美国新墨西哥州埃奇伍德镇的西村彗星，及其受太阳风吹袭而伸展的颀长离子尾之结构。下星期的日落后，可在西方的地平线附近，寻找这颗彗发持续增亮、彗尾也不断增长的彗星。 （Sigma Hydrids meteor shower 长蛇σ流星雨）

图集: 提交给APOD的西村彗星图片精选

明日的图片: person, moon, sun