Updated on 01/04/2023 at 2:46 p.m
- In late January, a bright comet will come close enough to be visible to the naked eye or binoculars.
- Comet C/2022 E3 has an orbital period of 50,000 years.
- The Neanderthals were the last to see him.
At the end of January, a comet can be seen from Europa – easily with binoculars or even with the naked eye. Because comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will then reach its maximum brightness, reports the House of Astronomy.
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Comet is visible in northern hemisphere in late January
“With an inclination of 109 degrees, its orbit is almost perpendicular to the ecliptic – practical for us observers on Earth,” writes the House of Astronomy. In countries in the northern hemisphere, the comet is visible in the morning skies as it moves rapidly northwest in January. In the southern hemisphere it can be admired at the beginning of February. Seen from Earth, it is then near the north celestial pole near the Pole Star.
The best visibility begins following mid-January, according to the Haus der Astronomie, but the days just before the end of the month are optimal. The moonlight then disturbed the observation. There will be another window in the second week of February.
“Comets are known to be unpredictable”, writes NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “But if this comet continues its current trend in brightness, it will be easy to see with binoculars, and there is a good chance that it will also be visible to the naked eye in dark skies.”
Star charts of the comet’s orbit and finder charts show the Association of Star Friends on their website.
Orbital period of around 50,000 years: Neanderthals last saw C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
The last time this comet came this close to Earth was in the Upper Paleolithic. The orbital period of C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is regarding 50,000 years. So it was last visible in the times of the Neanderthals, as reported by space.com.
The comet, discovered in March 2022, is currently traversing the inner solar system. It will reach perihelion – its closest approach to the sun – on January 12. Then it is regarding 160 kilometers away from the sun. Some time later, on February 1st, it will whizz by at its closest distance to Earth at around 42 kilometers.
Comets come from the early days of our solar system, which is why they are several billion years old. They consist of a mixture of ice, dust and rock. When a comet approaches the sun, its nucleus evaporates, creating what is known as a comet’s tail.
Sources used:
- House of Astronomy: “Binocular comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) approaching” (January 3, 2023)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory der Nasa: “What’s Up – January 2023” (29. Dezember 2022)
- space.com: “Possible naked-eye comet will visit Earth for 1st time since Neanderthals in 2023”
- sternfreunde.de: “Binocular comet approaching”
