The green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen in the sky all night with binoculars or a telescope. Today he comes closest to the earth.
Update from Wednesday, February 1, 2023: The green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is not as close to Earth as it is now. On February 1st it will reach its closest point to the earth and at this time it will be “only” 42 million kilometers away from the earth. Nevertheless, the comet will not be visible to the naked eye – it is too faint.
According to the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the comet is around one kilometer in size. However, its greenish shimmering particle shell (technical term: coma) is around 50,000 kilometers in size. The green color comes from a gas created by heating from the sun.
If you want to observe the comet, you should have a clear view to the north and northeast. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) stays there all night and does not go. under. But the observation is currently mostly disturbed by the bright moonlight – or clouds. After the full moon – in the second week of February – the moon rises later again, so it shouldn’t disturb the observation too much. Before comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can hardly be seen in the sky from around mid-February, another highlight is imminent: from February 10th to 12th, the green comet will pass the planet Mars in the constellation Taurus.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) shines green in the sky – only visible with binoculars
Update from Wednesday, January 18, 2023: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reached perihelion on January 12, its closest approach to the Sun. Since then he has been getting closer and closer to Earth. On February 1st he is closest to the earth, he has reached the so-called perigee. However, the comet can already be observed: it has been in the sky all night and is moving from north-west to north-east.
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The best time to see the comet is in late January, when the moon’s light won’t interfere with observation. The next full moon will be in the sky on February 5, and its light could obscure the faint comet. Furthermore, the comet is best seen in very dark surroundings and with the help of binoculars or a telescope.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is not the first time seen from Earth. Already about 50,000 years ago it passed the earth and will return in about 50,000 years.
Green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen in the sky
First report from Tuesday, January 3, 2023: Frankfurt – It has been known to experts and amateur astronomers for several months because it was discovered Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) already in March 2022. But the comet is slowly approaching the earth and is getting brighter, which is why it will also be interesting for laypeople with binoculars from around mid-January.
On January 12, 2023, the comet reaches its closest proximity to the sun, the so-called perihelion. He is then still 166 million kilometers away from the sun. At this point in time, the comet is still more than 100 million kilometers away from Earth – but that should change in the coming days. After January 12, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) continues to approach Earth and reaches its closest distance to Earth (the so-called perigee) on February 1.
At this time there are only 42 million kilometers between the comet and the earth – it is particularly easy to see in the sky at this time. However, you shouldn’t necessarily expect the green coloration that you see on recordings with the naked eye. The comet will appear more as a speck of mist.
How bright will Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) be? Possibly visible to the naked eye
But how bright will the comet get? Predicting the brightness of comets is difficult because it is difficult to predict how they will behave as they approach the Sun. Many a promising comet has already broken up before it was clearly visible from Earth. In astronomy, the saying “comets are like cats: they have a tail and do what they want” applies.
So far, however, the comet has “kept within the brightness forecasts without major fluctuations,” explains the Austrian comet photographer Michael Jäger to the Frankfurter Rundschau by IPPEN.MEDIA. “This is a good sign that he will reach the 5th size class at the end of January or beginning of February,” the expert continues. “The comet is only visible under a dark mountain sky, but you need a small telescope from urban areas,” emphasizes Jäger.
Experts estimate that comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be clearly visible in binoculars from around mid-January to mid-February. It may also be visible to the naked eye from very dark locations – but a show like that of comet C/2020 F3 (Neowise) in summer 2020 should not be expected. Comet expert Jäger also assumes the same: “This comet cannot be compared with the bright comets, such as Neowise 2020.”
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be in the sky all night
If you want to observe the comet, you’re in luck with C/2022 E3 (ZTF): Then, when observing it is most exciting, it is high in the sky and can be seen throughout the night. In early January, however, the comet disappears below the horizon at dusk. After midnight, he appears in the northeast. Over time, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) rises higher: from around mid-January it no longer sets, but is visible in the sky all night.
At the beginning of January, the comet is still close to the constellations of the Northern Crown, Hercules and Bears, pulling it a little more each night towards the constellation of the Little Bear (Little Dipper). In the second half of January it can be seen near the North Star for some time. By the time it reaches its closest point to Earth, the comet will be high in the sky and will not set. However, a bright disturbing factor also appears in the sky at this time: On February 5th there is a full moon and the moon lights up the sky.
The comet should be visible in binoculars by mid-February. The observation could also be particularly worthwhile on February 10th, 11th and 12th: Then comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation Taurus will pass very close to the planet Mars.
This is how you can observe Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the night sky
- Beginning of January: The comet sets in the evening and reappears in the northeast after midnight.
- 12 January: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reaches its closest position to the Sun and is only 166 million kilometers away from the Sun.
- From around mid-January: The comet is visible in the sky all night. It is located near North Star and is easily observable high in the sky.
- February 1st: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reaches its closest position to Earth, only 42 million kilometers away.
- February 10, 11 and 12: The comet will pass close to the planet Mars in the constellation of Taurus.
- Around mid-February: The comet is becoming increasingly difficult to see as it moves away from the Sun.
Comets are “dirty snowballs” of ice and dust
Comets are among the oldest objects in our solar system. They are made of dust and rock held together by ice. For this reason they are nicknamed “dirty snowballs”. Comets date from the time when the planets of the solar system formed, which is why they are also of particular interest for research.
When a comet approaches the sun, it gets warmer in space and the ice that holds dust and rock together sublimates – it evaporates. Dust and rock are released – the characteristic comet tail is formed. Comets leave dust trails on their orbit through space, which ensure regularly recurring streams of shooting stars on earth. (tab)
