This comet will be visible in September. We won't be around next time it returns

A newly discovered comet is making its way through our cosmic neighborhood for the first time in over 400 years.

Named Comet Nishimura after its discoverer, amateur Japanese astronomer Hideo Nishimura, the kilometer-sized celestial body will pass Earth safely on September 12, at a distance of over 80 million kilometers.

Stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere are encouraged to catch a glimpse of this rare event as soon as possible, as it will be another 400 years before the comet returns.

However, spotting the comet may prove challenging due to its faint visibility to the naked eye and its position in the sky. Early risers should look toward the northeastern horizon about an hour and a half before dawn, specifically less than 10 degrees above the horizon near the constellation Leo.

As the comet gets closer to the sun, it will brighten but also drop lower in the sky.

Paul Chodas, manager of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, told the Associated Press that a good pair of binoculars and knowledge of where to look are essential for spotting the comet.

The comet is expected to come closest to the sun, closer than Mercury, around September 17 before leaving the solar system. Despite the risk of disintegration when it passes the sun, Chodas believes it's likely to survive its journey.

Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, stated that the upcoming week represents the last feasible chances to see the comet from the Northern Hemisphere before it's lost in the sun's glare.

He described the comet as looking "amazing right now, with a long, highly structured tail."

If the comet survives its close encounter with the sun, it should be visible in the Southern Hemisphere by the end of September, sitting low on the horizon in the evening twilight.

The discovery of Comet Nishimura is particularly unusual given the prevalence of professional sky surveys by powerful ground telescopes. This marks the third find for Nishimura, a significant achievement for an amateur astronomer.

The comet last visited our vicinity about 430 years ago, predating the invention of the telescope by Galileo.