Latin America will be able to observe this phenomenon during February. Author: BBC
The newly discovered bright green comet can be seen in the sky for the first time in 50,000 years in January and early February.
The comet is visible through binoculars to observers in the Northern Hemisphere during most of January and in the Southern Hemisphere in early February, according to NASA.
People in the northern hemisphere will be able to see it with binoculars as a small green glow starting this Thursday.
This means that in countries such as Mexico, it can be observed already this week, especially on January 21, when there will be a new moon. Meanwhile, in the rest of Latin America, we will have to wait until early February.
The green comet, first detected in March 2022 as it orbited Jupiter, will keep moving closer to Earth until it reaches its closest point on February 2, according to experts from the US space agency.
This will be the best day to see it and it is recommended to find a place away from the city lights to be able to contemplate it.
In addition, according to scientific media, the best time to observe it is after midnight or early in the morning before sunrise.
“Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this comet continues its current bright trend, it should be easy to spot,” NASA reported in a blog post earlier this month.
“It is possible that this will become visible to the naked eye under dark skies,” they added.
According to the Planetary Society, at this time the comet will be approximately 42 million kilometers from our planet.
According to NASA, the comet will be visible through binoculars in the morning sky to observers in the Northern Hemisphere for most of January and to observers in the Southern Hemisphere in early February.
Depending on the brightness in the coming weeks, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could even be visible to the naked eye in dark skies by the end of January.
ice celestial body –called C/2022 E3 (ZTF), very long name, according to NASA– it made its closest approach to the Sun on January 12 before approaching Earth.
“This comet already looks like a fluffy little ball that moves through the universe, unlike stars, which are always in the same places, forming constellations,” said a researcher from the Institute of Astronomy UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico). Fierro Gossman.
“They are detected even if they are very far away, because they are moving relative to the stars, and this time we can see them with the naked eye in very dark places,” he added.
author Astronomy in Mexico He elaborated that although the object will noticeably increase in brightness as it approaches the Sun, due to its position, it will not be possible to observe a classic tail or tail, so people should be careful to see it as a brilliant ball.
Dan Bartlett, a retired science professor and astrophotographer, took pictures of the comet from his cabin near California’s Yosemite National Park and calls skygazing a humiliating experience.
I’m telling you, binoculars, dark place, you’ll see something. Bring your friends and they’ll see something once in a lifetime,” Bartlett told the BBC.
Bartlett has two impressive telescopes on his front porch at June Lake, and clear nights and dark skies allow him to take great photographs.
(According to BBC World)
Source: Juventud Rebelde