KOMPAS.com – Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass near Earth in early February.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a rare comet that can only be seen once in a lifetime.
It is called once in a lifetime because the time span for the appearance of ZTF far exceeds the average age of living humans, which reaches 50,000 years.
National Research and Innovation Agency Space Research Center (BRIN) via upload Instagram explained, this comet was first observed on July 10, 2021.
The name ZTF itself stands for the Zwicky Transient Facility, an astronomical observation facility at the Palomar Observatory, California, United States.
Also read: What’s the Difference between Asteroids, Comets, Meteoroids, Meteors, and Meteorites?
Then, when can comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) start to be visible from Indonesia?
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Schedule for comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passing over Indonesia
Researcher at the BRIN Space Research Center, Andi Pangerang, revealed that comet C/2022 E3 or ZTF takes so long to pass because its orbit is shaped like a hyperbola.
A hyperbolic orbit is an orbit that has an eccentricity value greater than one, so that it forms an open curve at both foci.
He explained that comet C/2022 E3 could actually be seen starting Thursday (12/1/2023) in the morning.
“Actually, comet ZTF has been visible in Indonesia since early this morning, January 12, 2023, at 02.30 local time according to each time zone,” he said when contacted. Kompas.comThursday.
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Early this morning, continued Andi, this comet was visible from the northeast to the north before sunrise.
As for January 29, 2023, the comet will be seen twice, namely at midnight and at 23.00 local time.
On January 30, 2023, the comet will be visible at 21:00 local time from the north near the constellation Draco.
“Until January 30, the comet can be seen until 05.30 local time in the north,” he said.
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However, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass near Earth at a distance of 42,472,000 km, in 2 February 2023 at 00.32 WIB, 01.32 WITA and 02.32 WIT.
When passing near Earth, according to Andi, people throughout Indonesia can witness it from February 1 at 18.30 WIB to February 2 at 02.30 local time.
“According to each time zone, from the north near the Camelopardalis constellation,” said Andi.
Andi further explained, this comet can be observed until February 13, 2023, from 18.30 to 01.00 local time.
On that date, the comet will culminate or reach its highest point at 19.00 local time in the north.
Also read: Understanding Comets: Definition, Origins, to Examples of Comets
How to watch comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
According to the panspermia theory, the seeds of life are brought to earth from outer space via meteors, comets and other outer space objects.To be able to see comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) once in a lifetime, people do not need to use visual aids and only need the naked eye.
“It is enough to find a place that is free from light pollution, a field of view free from obstructions when observing, and of course the weather conditions in that place are quite sunny,” said Andi.
In addition, the public can also capture this comet using a DSLR camera or CCD camera attached to a telescope.
As quoted from page NASA, comet ZTF It can be distinguished from other celestial bodies by its light.
The comet emits a greenish glow with a short, broad dust tail and a long, dim ion tail.
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