Astronomers predict that a newly discovered comet could be seen with the unaided eye in clear night skies in the coming weeks as it passes Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. The comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF), was discovered in March 2022 by the Zwicky Transient Facility utilising the wide-field survey camera.
Nasa said late last month that although the long-period comet has brightened significantly since its discovery, it is still too dim to be seen without a telescope. On January 12 and February 1, the comet will be closest to the sun and earth, respectively. By February 1, the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could become just slightly visible to the eye in dark night skies, despite its brightness being notoriously erratic.
However, visibility may be impacted by a sky that is illuminated by the moon or city lights.
The comet, which is formed of ice and dust, may be clearly seen in a fine telescopic image along with its brighter greenish coma, short broad dust tail, and long faint ion tail. According to an astronomer at the Paris Observatory quoted by AFP, the comet’s diameter is thought to be roughly a kilometre. The comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is predicted to be much smaller than NEOWISE, the last one to approach Earth in March 2020 and be visible to the unaided eye.What are your thoughts on this? Would you see this comet? Comment below
