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GREEN COMET TO APPEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 THOUSAND YEARS

Published: 2023-02-06 18:39:14 Last Updated: 2023-02-07 10:23:40

Recently, an asteroid flew over South America to say hello. And soon after, another space object visited Earth. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) which is a beautiful green comet which last visited our solar system 50,000 years ago. The discovery was only made in March 2022 by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Because of its long orbit, you may never see it again in your lifetime.
The comet made its closest approach to Earth on February 1, when Earth was just 26 million miles away. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is currently moving away from Earth, but will remain visible for the next few weeks. How can I see it? The comet is visible to the unaided eye, especially on clear nights with heavy light pollution, but is easier to spot with binoculars or a telescope. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is expected to approach the star Capella in the constellation of Auriga on February 5. Another good time to watch comets is from February 9 to 13, when the comet will appear near Mars in Taurus.

This green comet isn't quite as bright as Comet Neowise or Comet Leonard, but it's still quite a splash. Astrophotographers, including our favourite Andrew McCarthy, will relish the opportunity to document this rare sighting. The last Paleolithic comet to be seen, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is a striking link to the past and a reminder of just how long the history of the universe really is.

Article Tags: Viral Space Return Comet Green