A green comet that was recently discovered will be appearing on the dark blanket of stars for the first time in the last 50,000 years.
Green Comet Flyby Over the Night Sky
CNN reports that the said comet was first discovered last March 2, 2022. Astronomers were able to spot it with the wide field camera of Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory within San Diego.
According to NASA, the green comet will be closest to the sun by January 12.
The comet was named C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Its orbit routes through the solar system's exterior reaches, which is why it takes quite a while for it to pass by earth again. This was according to the Planetary Society.
The celestial and icy object will have its closest flyby over earth between February 1 and 2. EarthSky reports that it will be roughly 42 million km away. As the comet gets closer to earth, space enthusiasts and observers may be able to see it close to Polaris or the North Star. It should also be clearly visible during early evening.
EarthSky also notes how skygazers situated in the Northern Hemisphere can use binoculars or telescopes to go deep into the horizon in the northeast region before it reaches midnight in order to spot the comet by January 12. Other than that, NASA also notes how the comet should be visible, with binoculars, in most January mornings for those watches from the Northern Hemisphere. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it should be visible during early February.
While this depends on its brightness over the succeeding weeks, the comet could even be clear to the naked eye as January ends.
More Cosmic Events To Look Forward to in January 2023
NASA reports that throughout the entire month after sunset, individuals may be able to spot four planets without having to use telescopes or binoculars of their own. Mars can be found in the eastern area, while Saturn can be spotted in the southwestern part along with Venus. High overhead is Jupiter.
Aside from this, from January 18 up until January 24, Venus can be spotted intersecting with Saturn as the sunset glow fades. The pair may be spotted in the lower southwest around 45 minutes from sunset. These two will look to be closest by the 22nd. In such a time, the two will only have a third of a degree distance within the sky.
By January 23, these two planets will still be apart by just a degree. They will also be accompanied by a crescent moon that is slim. By the 25th, watchers can fix their eyes southwest 30 to 45 minutes after the sunset. They can elevate their focus beyond Saturn and Venus to see the moon with its distance from Jupiter worth a degree.
RELATED ARTICLE: Comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) Leaves Astronomers Confused as Space Rock Heads to Sun After Visiting Earth
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