Astronomers said the newly discovered comet could be visible to the naked eye as it flies past the Earth within weeks. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see her, another one for 50,000. years.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first spotted by astronomers last year near Jupiter. Now, after a long journey, it is approaching Earth. Currently the clearing point can be observed with the aid of telescopes, but at the turn of January and February it will be possible to see it with the naked eye above Poland, if the weather conditions are good.
Made of ice and dust and emitting a greenish aura, the comet is about a kilometer across and went inward solar system probably with Oort cloud. Such small objects are rarely seen in the sky without specialized instruments, but C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will get close enough to Earth to compensate for the comet’s small size.
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Astronomers have no doubts it will be an extraordinary sight, as when the comet approaches Earth it will be “the brightest spot in the sky”, according to the words Nicolas Biver, astrophysicist at the Paris Observatory. They also stress that this is the only opportunity in a lifetime to be able to observe the comet. The object is estimated to orbit the Sun in 200 years, but it could take up to 50,000 years before it is visible again over Poland. years.
The comet spent most of its life “at least 2,500 times as far away as the Earth is from the Sun,” Thomas Prince explained, professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. The last time a comet passed the Earth was in the Upper Paleolithic, when Neanderthals still roamed the Earth. This “rare visitor” will provide “information about what the solar system contains far beyond the planets we’ve discovered,” Prince added.
When to look for comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)?
The brightest comet will be visible over Poland on February 1 and 2, so it’s also worth looking for it in the sky with the naked eye. Unfortunately, the observation could be interrupted by the Moon, which will slowly approach the next full moon (February 5). However, astronomers believe there is a high probability that the comet will be visible through ordinary binoculars until February 10. However, if you have a telescope, you can look for a bright object in the sky around January 20th.
Klaudia Stawska, WP Tech associate
