It’s Visible Every 50,000 Years: How We’re Observing Comet ZTF From This Weekend

It was closest to the sun on Thursday, January 12th. It is now getting closer and closer to Earth. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be visible in the sky on Saturday evening.

These are the first reports since the Paleolithic Age, or 50,000 years ago Science and the future. This is the time it takes to go around the sun. It will be closest to our planet on February 1, at an altitude of 42 million km.

One kilometer in diameter

The comet was identified by the Palomar Astronomical Observatory in California in March 2022. It is a small celestial body made of ice about one kilometer in diameter.

To see it through the coming nights, it would take a little luck. If it was bright enough, it would be possible to see it with the naked eye. said astrophysicist Nicholas Beaver, quoting North Voice.

On the other hand, it will be necessary to move as far away as possible from light sources such as cities and to wait until the moon becomes very dark.

“Near Ursa Major and Ursa Minor”

“You’ll have to look at a clear sky in the north near the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. The best thing is to be guided by someone who knows a little about it and has a telescope,” says Eric Lagadec. by Sciences et avenir.

Since the new moon is scheduled for Saturday, the next night may be the best for observing this comet. It is recommended that you try to watch it during the last hours of the night. You may also have a chance to see her over the next week.

Enjoy it, its next passage is expected in 50,000 years. Unless they are expelled from the solar system by then.