Comet “C/2022 E3 (ZTF)” will cross Earth’s sky again after a long absence of 50,000 years, and could even be seen with the naked eye at the end of January. The last time a comet was seen was in Paleolithic times. D.e where does the comet come from, what is its nature and when will be the best moment to see it this 2023.
It is a small rocky and icy body, with a diameter of just 1 km, discovered in March 2022 by the “Zwicky Transient Facility” (ZTF) program, which operates the Samuel-Oschin telescope at the Palomar Observatory in California. It will reach its perihelion, that is, the closest point to the Sun, on January 12, according to astronomers, who were able to calculate its trajectory after months of observation. However, that will not be the best date to observe the astronomical event.
What does C/2022 E3 mean?
- C: it means that the comet is not periodic (since it was last seen 50 thousand years ago)
- 2022: refers to the year in which it was detected (March 2022).
- E3: It comes from the comet nomenclature system approved by the International Astronomical Union, and the 3 refers to the fact that it was the third astronomical object discovered in the same period.
- ZTF: alludes to the comet being discovered with telescopes at the Zwicky Transitional Facility.
The best observation window will be the weekend of January 21 and 22, and the following week. During this period it will pass between the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. Later it will be able to be seen in the southern hemisphere, to then spread towards the ends of the solar system, where it was probably born.
To observe it, it is always important to consider light pollution can be an obstacle for a good appreciation of the phenomenon. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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