A ‘ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME’ comet will pass over Herefordshire this week.

Comet Nishimura will be most visible on September 12.

According to Professor Brad Gibson, director of the E A Milne Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Hull, the comet is already visible to the naked eye.

He added that the best time to see the comet was in the hour after sunset and the hour before dawn by looking east-north-east, towards the crescent moon and Venus.

Professor Gibson continued, saying: “The comet takes 500 years to orbit the solar system, Earth takes one year, and the outer planets can take many decades.

“So, to say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Nishimura isn’t an exaggeration.”

As a rural county with relatively low levels of light pollution, locals have a good chance at spotting the shooting star.

Here are some of the most suitable spots for any potential Herefordshire stargazers:

King's Caple: Between Hereford and Ledbury, the village of King's Caple is said by CPRE to have some of the county's truly darkest night skies.

Berrington Hall: Just outside Leominster. The hall is one of Herefordshire Astronomical Society's observation sites.

Kingstone: The village enjoys low light pollution and has one of the county's highest star counts according to countryside charity CPRE.

Fownhope: The Recreation Field in Fownhope is one of the four observation sites used by HAS.

Hay Bluff: Right on the English/Welsh Border, Hay Bluff is listed by the Brecon Beacons National Park as one of the best 10 places to go stargazing.

Bartestree: Just outside of Hereford. The village hall in Bartestree is the third observation site used by Herefordshire Astronomical Society for stargazing.

Lugg Meadows: The largest surviving Lammas Meadow in the country and HAS’s newest observation site.

St Margarets: According to CPRE, St Margarets village in the south of the county enjoys one of Herefordshire's highest star counts.