How to see the green comet ZTF that hasn’t visited us in 50,000 years

If we are a little lucky and can easily orient ourselves in the sky, in the next few days we will be able to see kite whose previous witnesses may have been Neanderthals. This is so because C/2022 E3 ZTFbetter known as ZTF, occupies 50,000 years in a complete circuit of the Sun, so there is not much chance of seeing this green comet.

The best day to see it will probably be 1st of February, although since the third week of January it has become easier to find in the sky. Unfortunately, this is one of those that are known as ordinary comets. That is, its brightness, in principle, is not enough to see it without good binoculars or a telescope. However, within this group, it is believed that exceptional brillianceso maybe some lucky ones could see it with the naked eye.

Obviously, for this it was necessary to find a place dark enough and away from light pollution. A few years ago it was relatively simple, but every time more and more areas of the Earth are affected by this problem. In short, this comet is difficult to see unaided. But the effort is worth it. After all, there will be no more opportunities.

ZTF, the comet that flew over the Neanderthals

C/2022 E3 ZTF was discovered in March last year using Palomar Observatory Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in southern California. Responsible for opening Frank Muskie and Bryce Painn, they initially thought it was an asteroid. However, later observations determined that it was in fact a comet. In addition, they were able to measure the duration of its revolution around the Sun. This is no more, no less than 50,000 years, so the last time it could be seen from Earth, it might have been inhabited. Neanderthals or Homo sapiens very early.

Now it’s our turn, and maybe no one else will see it. Not because by then we may have destroyed the Earth or our species will have become extinct. Leaving aside the possibility that this will happen, there is a problem that you are currently traveling on parabolic orbitwithout closing. Therefore, it is possible that, having engulfed the Sun, it goes into deep space, never to return.

Why is Comet ZTF green?

This comet is interesting for two reasons, besides the duration of its revolution around the Sun: on the one hand, because of its intense brightness, exceptional among ordinary comets. On the other hand, for him greenish color.

This is far from the only green comet, but each of them is unique and interesting in its own way. In any case, those who acquire this color do so through the presence of diatomic carbon in its composition. It is a compound that emits green light as it is destroyed by sunlight, which is why the gas surrounding the comet has such a distinctive and beautiful hue.

Edu INAF (Wikimedia Commons)

How can we see a comet?

This comment reached the closest point to the Sun, called perihelionlast January 12. Since then, it has been moving away from the king’s star and approaching Earth. The closest approach to our planet is expected 1st of February, but a few weeks before that, he could have looked much better. As explained from space.comthe route in the sky that we can expect in the coming days is the following:

“On the night of January 26-27, it can be conveniently detected by passing a few degrees east of the Ursa Minor bowl. On the night of January 27, it will be 3.5° to the right of the orange Cochab, the brighter of the two outer bowl stars. On the night of February 1, when C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passes closest to Earth, it will be within the dim, blurry constellation Camelopardalis. By February 5, it will pass a couple of degrees west of the bright yellow-white star Capella, and the next night it will be inside the triangle formed by the asterism Children in Auriga.

space.com

It should be noted that the fact that it achieves the best visibility around Camelopardalis is bad news for Southern Hemispherebecause it is practically invisible from there.

On the other hand, it will not be easy for our satellite either, since it will reach the full moon phase on February 5th and consequently it will be much illumined in the previous days.

However, we can try to see the comet. The good thing is that if we don’t get it, there will surely be plenty of photos to enjoy its majestic green light. It won’t be like live, but at least we have that option. The Neanderthals couldn’t say the same.