Jakarta –
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) completes an orbit around the Sun every 50,000 years. For that, humans can see it passing closest from Earth once in a lifetime.
This comet with a green short tail and a white long tail will pass closest to Earth around February 2, 2023 at 00.32 WIB, 01.32 WITA or 02.32 WIT, as quoted from uploading @lapan_ri, Sunday (15/1/2023).
ZTF stands for Zwicky Transient Facility, the name of an astronomical observation facility that has a wide field of view. The camera is also connected to the Samuel Oschin telescope at the Palomar Observatory, California, USA.
This comet was named “… (ZTF)” because it was originally observed from this facility in March 2022, as quoted from NASA’s website.
Researcher of the Space Center Andi Princeg from the Aviation and Space Research Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said, said this comet only passes once in its lifetime because its orbit is in the shape of a hyperbola, namely an orbit whose elongation is greater than 1. As a result, its shape is like open curve at both foci.
This orbital condition is different from parabolic orbits where the ellipse is exactly one and elliptical orbits where the ellipse is between 0 and 1.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can also be seen inland and rural areas since January 16, 2023, 02.30-05.30 local time from the northeast near the constellation Bootes. This comet’s sunrise time will be faster every day.
On January 29 , the comet will rise around midnight in the north near the constellation Ursa Minor.
Until January 30, this comet can be seen until 05.30 local time in the north.
Starting January 31, the comet will set at 4:00 a.m. and earlier each day.
This comet can also be seen in Indonesia since February 1, 2023 after sunset at 18.30 WIB according to the local time zone, from the north, near the Camelopardalis constellation.
In DKI Jakarta and its surroundings, on February 1 2023, this comet also reached its highest point at 21.53 WIB with an altitude of 11.9 degrees. Then, at the closest point, this comet is visible in the north with an altitude of 7.4 degrees. Meanwhile, in eastern Indonesia, the comet will set when it reaches its closest point to Earth.
How to Observe a Comet that Passes Once in a Lifetime
Andi said Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could be observed from a place free from light pollution, a field of view free from obstructions when observing comets, and local weather conditions which were quite sunny.
“Friends can also capture this comet using a DSLR camera, CCD camera attached to a telescope and connected to your laptop/computer, because the opportunity to observe this comet is only once in a lifetime,” said Andi.
“Comet This can be observed without using optical aids for remote and rural areas until February 13, from 18.30 to 01.00 local time from north to west, near the constellation Taurus,” he explained.
Enjoy observing this celestial phenomenon, detikers!
Watch Video “The last comet that appeared during the Ice Age is about to pass“
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
(twu/nwk)
