The night sky will host a green comet for the first time in 50,000 years, being by far the most incredible space event that has happened lately.
The comet is recently discovered via the impressive Zwicky Transient Facility’s wide-field survey camera at the Palomar Observatory, which makes it even better. According to scientists, on January 12, the comet will be the closest to the sun.
Discover the full story below and learn more about the green comet.
Green Comet Event Will Leave in Awe
The recently discovered green comet dubbed C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be the first to appear in the night sky after 50,000 years!
According to The Planetary Society, the comet has an orbit around the sun that travels to the extreme limits of the Solar System, which explains why it has traveled so far and for such a very long period before passing by Earth once more. Quite impressive, isn’t it?!
And there’s more.
The comet’s streaking tails of dust and charged particles, as well as the brilliant green coma that surrounds it, may be used to tell it apart from the stars. As a comet approaches the Sun, a coma builds around it, forcing its ice to sublimate or transform instantly into gas. When viewed via a telescope, the comet appears hazy as a result.
When can we see the green comet?
The comet may even become visible to the naked eye in dark skies at the end of January, depending on how brilliant it gets in the upcoming weeks.
Who can see it?
According to NASA, skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere should be able to see the comet using binoculars during the majority of January, while those in the Southern Hemisphere should be able to see it in the morning sky in early February.
The comet will be best seen earlier in the evening, near the brilliant star Polaris, often known as the North Star, as it approaches Earth.