Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Astronomy and Space -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J.B.C. who wrote (393)	2/1/2023 10:12:24 AM
From: J.B.C.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 411

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Home News SkywatchingGreen comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be closest to Earth today. Here's how to see it. By Robert Lea published 2 days ago C/2022 E3 (ZTF) hasn't been so close to Earth for 50,000 years since the last ice age and prior to the extinction of the Neanderthals. (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) Comments (6) A photograph of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Bob Schiff in Danville, CA. (Image credit: Bob Schiff) On Wednesday (Feb. 1) a comet that has not visited the Earth since the last ice age and the time of the Neanderthals will make its closest approach to our planet, or perigee. Excitingly, the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), which last passed through the inner solar system around 50,000 years ago, will be at its brightest during this time and may even be visible to the naked eye under the right conditions. The comet should be observable for days as it approaches our planet and then recedes on its way to the outer solar system. During the comet's perigee, it will come to within a distance of around 26 million miles (42 million kilometers) from our planet, which is equivalent to about 28% of the distance between Earth and the sun. If you've been waiting to get a look at C/2022 E3 (ZTF) before it speeds away, now is your best chance. According to In-the-Sky,(opens in new tab) from New York City C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is circumpolar, meaning it is permanently above the horizon, and should therefore be visible for most of the night. It will be visible in the Camelopardalis constellation while at perigee, a large but faint area of sky devoid of bright stars and located close to the north celestial pole. The comet will become visible at around 6:49 p.m. EST (2349 GMT) on Wednesday (Feb. 1) when it will be 49 degrees over the northern horizon. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will climb to its highest point in the sky, 58 degrees over the northern horizon, at around 9:46 p.m. EST (0246 GMT). Following this it will disappear in the dawn light at around 5:57 a.m. EST (1057 GMT) on Feb. 2 while at around 30 degrees over the horizon to the north. An illustration of the night sky on Wednesday (Feb. 1) showing the location of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as viewed from New York City, facing north at 6:45 p.m. EST (2345 GMT). (Image credit: TheSkyLive.com)The comet will remain visible through early February, and will finally become visible to observers in the southern horizon this month. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) may be visible to the naked eye but should be easier to spot with binoculars or a telescope. The easiest times to spot it may be on Sunday (Feb. 5) when the comet is next to the bright star Capella in the Auriga constellation, or between Feb. 9 and Feb. 13 when it will shine near Mars in the Taurus constellation. An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 10 facing north from New York City at 6:45 p.m. EST (2345 GMT), showing comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) appearing in close proximity to Mars. (Image credit: TheSkyLive.com)If you're hoping to observe C/2022 E3 (ZTF), our guides for the best telescopesand best binoculars are a great place to start. If you're looking to snap photos of the night sky, check out our guide on how to view and photograph comets, how to photograph the moon, as well our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. A photograph of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Miguel Claro. (Image credit: Miguel Claro)C/2022 E3 (ZTF) made its close approach to the sun, its perihelion, on Jan. 12 when it passed to within 100 million miles (160 million kilometers) of our star before heading towards Earth. The orbital period of C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is 50,000 years according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL)(opens in new tab), meaning the last time it came so close to the Earth or the sun our planet was in the midst of the last glacial period or "ice age" and Neanderthals still shared the planet with our early ancestors, the first homo sapiens. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first identified in March 2022 by the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility inside the orbit of Jupiter. Initially, astronomers suspected that it was an asteroid, but C/2022 E3 (ZTF) soon began to brighten as it approached the sun. This is a behavior displayed by comets as they approach the sun and are heated by radiation from our star, with the material at their surface transforming from solid ice to gas in a process called sublimation. This pointed to the true nature of C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and hinted at its potential visibility over Earth.