Green comet in Ecuador: From the Quito Astronomical Observatory you can observe the comet that passes once every 50,000 years

A historic astronomical event can be observed in February from Ecuador. It’s about the green comet, a celestial body that was discovered last year and that only passes the Earth once every 50,000 years.

The phenomenon will reach its minimum point of distance from Earth from February 1 to 3days in which the Quito Astronomical Observatory will open its doors for fans who want to spot the comet.

According to a statement from the institution, the Registered visitors will be able to enter and make use of the different electronic telescopes of the Observatory, accompanied by a personalized explanation by experts in the area of ​​astronomical sciences who work in this research center.

Those interested in observing the comet from the Observatory facilities may register here.

“The comet has not been detected before, but it has visited us, 50,000 years ago. Humanity was practically just appearing and we have not observed it,” said the Director of the Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ericson Lopezin an interview with EL UNIVERSO.

Green Comet Characteristics

The comet, whose technical name is C/2022 E3 (ZTF)originates from the Oort and Kuiper Cloud regions, like the rest of the comets, said the director.

“These comets are cold bodies of dust, of gas, that were formed when the Solar System originated,” Lopez explained. The green comet, in particular, is characterized by its tail of yellowish color and very extensivewhich is distinguished when it approaches the Sun.

“The hair of the comet is green, this is due to the elements present, the diatomic molecule of carbon C2”, the teacher and researcher explained. The radiation emitted by this molecule is also one of the characteristics that draw attention to the C/2022 E3 (ZTF).

According to the director of the Observatory, The comet is relatively small, 1 kilometer in diameter and 52 million kilometers from Earth. That equals 110 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, so the comet’s gravitational field will not affect our planet.

How to observe the comet

People who do not have special equipment to observe it will only be able to notice a faint green spot in the sky.

“The observation of the comet is done with instruments, binoculars and telescopes. At first glance it is doubtful because it is not very bright ”, Ericson Lopez noted.

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The best time to view the comet is February 1 between 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. the next day.

At that time, the comet will have a magnitude of 5.4 and will be located in the constellation of Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, which is a very inconspicuous northern celestial hemisphere constellation, because its brightest stars are only magnitude 5.

Observing it from high places is recommended, although the view of the comet will depend on how clear the sky is that night, the astronomer specified. (YO)