A golden opportunity has come to see the green Comet Zwicky (C/2022 E3:ZTF) for the first time since Neanderthals saw it 50,000 years ago.
This weekend the comet will pass close to Mars in Taurus, easy to spot with binoculars aimed near it.
Comet ZTF has passed its perihelion and perigee, its closest approach to both the Sun and Earth, and is now on its way out of the Solar System.
The comet appears next to the red planet Mars from February 10th to February 15th and begins approaching the constellations of Orion and Eridanus. These days, Mars is near Aldebaran, alpha star of Taurus, high in the night sky about an hour after sunset, making it a good indicator for early evening comet hunting.
Mars also provides an excellent reference point from which to find “messengers from the outermost reaches of our solar system.” Throughout February, Mars’ brightness ranges between -0.2 and +0.4 magnitude, so it’s not too hard to spot in most areas without significant light pollution.
Venus and Jupiter are also easy to spot in the early evening sky. Venus, the brightest planet in the night sky in February, has long been called a dog food in Korea when it is the evening star. Dog food baragi means dog food bowl. When Venus rises in the evening sky, it means it’s time to feed the dog.
Beyond this weekend, the comet will fade as it moves away from Earth, making it difficult for the public to find it. Even if Comet Zwicky fades, there is still time to see it if you know when and where to look.
Lee Kwang-sik, science columnist [email protected]
