A rare green comet will pass by Earth starting this week

If you look at the night sky next month and see a little green light in the sky, don’t panic, the aliens haven’t landed.

A rare green comet is expected to pass by Earth this week and remain visible in the night sky for almost a month, according to NASA and astronomers.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered last March, when it was already in orbit around Jupiter. It is distinguished by its green glow.

The comet will make its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, on Jan. 12 and will be visible to astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere, NASA scientists said. Those in the Southern Hemisphere will be able to see the comet in February.

“Comets are unpredictable, but if this continues at its current trend in brightness, it will be easily detectable with binoculars and visible to the unaided eye under dark skies,” NASA wrote in its post. “What’s the problem” blog earlier this month.

The comet will drift northwest across the horizon throughout January and make its closest approach to Earth between February 1 and 2, NASA said. At that time, according to astronomers, the comet will be 26 million miles from the planet.

Astronomical maps show that the comet will be close to Mars in about a week.