A comet that only approaches Earth once every 50,000 years will possibly be visible towards the end of January.
This is comet c/2022 E3, discovered in March 2022, by the systematic survey program for transient objects Zwicky Transient Facility. Its powerful activity increases its luminosity, which makes it likely to be noticeable to the naked eye.
The comet, an icy ball of rock that is about a kilometer in diameter, is expected to be observable from Earth between January 12 (when it will pass close to the sun) and early February (when it will be at its shortest distance from Earth. ).
The comet will approach the sun on January 12 and is expected to be visible from Earth within days. The new moon from January 21 to 22 will give us a good period to study the sky, since it will be devoid of light pollution.
Its next move near Earth would be approximately 6,800 years from now!
