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Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) — still without a snappy nickname — is currently visible using a telescope, but as it approaches Earth it is expected to get brighter and easier to see. The comet has a long orbit that takes it from the outer reaches of the Solar System in toward the Sun over thousands of years. It will reach its closest point to the Sun on Jan. 12, 2023, after which it will continue on past Earth. The comet will be closest to us on Feb. 1, at a distance of about 42 million kilometers (26 million miles). In the weeks surrounding its closest approach it may be visible with the naked eye or with binoculars.
Some of us remember how the so-called 'comet of the century' Comet Kohoutek fizzled as a night time show. (I did catch it, but the comet was barely a smudge to the naked eye.) At it's closest approach, Kohoutek came within 0.8 AU of the Earth. Comet ZTF is projected to come as close as 0.28 AU to the Earth, so it may give a better light show. On closest approach it should be visible in the faint northern constellation of Camelopardalis.
ZTF is the acronym for the Zwicky Transient Facility, which has identified over 1,000 supernovae.
It might, although they're hard to predict. I think it would have a maximum tail length at close to perihelion, but as it draws closer that would also brighten it up.
That's a cool little telescope, the Televue 85. Sometimes I wish I had some military night vision (like the PVS14) to look at things like this. For use in light polluted skies.
Sometimes I wish I had some military night vision (like the PVS14) to look at things like this. For use in light polluted skies.
You could try a UHC filter. It helps with some types of the urban light pollution, specifically the pollution created by sodium lights and mercury vapor lights that are used along many highways and in parking lots. The overall view through the scope will be a bit dimmer, but the contrast is improved.
It sure would be great to see another comet. Halley was my first in 1986, and then I remember one in 1995-96 or so, and 1997, visible in the evening to the naked eye. I want to say the names were Borrelly, Hyukatake, and Hale-Bopp.
I don't think I've seen any since. I have binoculars as well.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 01-12-2023 at 02:32 PM..
It sure would be great to see another comet. Halley was my first in 1986, and then I remember one in 1995-96 or so, and 1997, visible in the evening to the naked eye. I want to say the names were Borrelly, Hyukatake, and Hale-Bopp.
I don't think I've seen any since. I have binoculars as well.
Hyakutake (1997) and Hale-Bopp (1996) were both fantastic.
The last one I remember seeing was Pan-STARRS (2013). Not in the same league as those great ones, but it was naked-eye visible at its best.
Hyakutake (1997) and Hale-Bopp (1996) were both fantastic.
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.
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