Comet ZTF

[Universe93B]

How is it going for you guys trying to get a glimpse of this comet? Is it still in the early morning hours - it's hard to wake up at that time! I think we'll be able to see the comet right when it gets dark soon, but now the Moon light will be increasing though.

[hikernut]

I finally found ZTF tonight. It’s very close to Mars tonight and tomorrow night (Feb 10 and 11). Mars is very high in the sky in the early evening, the brightest object in the area. The comet can be seen in the same binocular view with Mars. It helps to know exactly where to look, though. I did see it with direct vision in binoculars.

With an 85mm telescope I can see a nucleus, but no tail was apparent.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Could those maybe be reversed as to the years?

I definitely remember seeing one in the period 1993-96, but it wasn't Hale-Bopp. I was living in a different area, and the comet was large and round.

I moved in 1997, and saw Hale-Bopp, with more typical comet-shape. With the job I had then and there, I remember talking to someone about that comet and the Heaven's Gate cult.

Yes, it seems I swapped the years.

These are the years when each perihelion happened. Hale-Bopp was visible for a long time. Wikipedia says it was visible to the naked eye for 18 months.