Comet ZTF, or C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is getting brighter and can now be seen with the naked eye in the night sky above the northern horizon. Other good news: it is circumpolar so visible all night, and is approaching us at high speed. Full of good moments of observations in perspective for several weeks.
That’s it: the cometcomet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), alias comet ZTF, has exceeded the limit of visibility ateyeeye bare (magnitude 6). Since January 20, thestarstar of ice displays a magnitude of 5.5 and approaches 5 with its unpredictable activity.
Let us recall that a few days ago, on January 12, this comet was at perihelionperihelionthe sound point orbitorbit closest to SoleilSoleil. Thus warmed in the central region of the Solar systemSolar system and our neighborhood that it had not visited for 50,000 years, it is changing from the inside and on the surface, sometimes with sudden eruptions which have not escaped the astronomersastronomers. Closely followed by all astrophotographers on Earth, comet ZTF sports a magnificent aureole, or coma, green and distinct tails on the shots. One is bluish, thin and extended, gazgaz sublimated and ionized, and the other, more diluted and fan-shaped, made up of dust formerly trapped in the ices of the core. Amateur astronomers have even reported the presence of an “anti-tail” this weekend (see photos above). A tail that shouldn’t exist, as it stretches in the direction of the Sun. However, this one hunts the mattermatter expelled by the comet in the other direction. In reality, it is an optical effect specify those who took these photos; an effect produced by the Earth intersecting the plane of the comet’s orbit around the Sun.
Comet ZTF is visible all night!
As of now, comet ZTF is to be looked for in the sky as soon as dusk is above the northern horizon. It gains height during the night and only disappears from the sky with the arrival of the Sun. She moves within the constellationconstellation circumpolar of the Dragon before migrating in the Little Dipper and its famous pole star (it seems not to move in the sky, because it is very close to the celestial North Pole). In a week, on January 30, the beautiful green comet will enter the constellation of the GiraffeGiraffetwo days before its closest passage to Earth, on February 2, just 42 million kilometers from our eyes.
At this time, we will probably still be able to distinguish it with the naked eye, but if you have a pair of binoculars, you will enjoy the beautiful spectacle of this star even more. diffusediffuse with its distinct tails. By going out to watch it every evening, you will have the pleasure of contemplating its evolution with its ups and downs of activity.
Another beautiful and great moment awaits us with comet ZTF: its passage (visually speaking) near Mars, in Taurus, on February 11, followed three days later, on the evening of Valentine’s Day, by a visit to Aldebaran, the red eye of the bovid. Beautiful appointments in perspective for all lovers of celestial spectacles.
Article of Xavier DemeersmanXavier Demeersman published on January 12, 2023
Named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and discovered 10 months ago, comet ZTF (for short) passes closest to the Sun on January 12. Its activity is about to peak and makes it almost visible to the naked eye. The conditions for its observation are more and more favorable as it approaches the Earth. A surprise show not to be missed in the beautiful nights ofwinterwinter. Here is all you need to know.
It is called C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and it has been 50,000 years since it passed through the inner Solar System and the vicinity of the Earth. On January 12, the comet is at perihelion, the point in its orbit closest to the Sun, at 164.7 million kilometers (1.1 astronomical units or AU). This is a little more than the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
Its journey through the hottest region of the Solar System is not without consequences for this “dirty snowball” whoseintegrityintegrity is jostled by the higher temperatures and the solar windsolar wind. All this transforms her and causes spectacular jerksjerks of activity which specialists and amateur astronomers have been witnessing for several weeks (photos above and below).
Many are confident that the comet will become visible to the naked eye any day now as it closes in on Earth. It’s the 1is next February that C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will reach the point of its orbit closest to our Planet. It will only be 0.28 AU, or a little less than 42 million kilometers. On January 12, its magnitude is 6.5 and is almost visible to the naked eye. Her brightnessbrightness could grow up to magnitude 5, which would make it easily discernible without an instrument. In the meantime, it is already possible to admire it in a simple pair of binoculars and of course through larger instruments (sunglasses, telescopetelescope). As always, comets can be full of surprises and their activity suddenly decreases or, on the contrary, intensifies more than expected. And C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is on track to deliver on those promises.
Where is comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)?
If C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is so called, it is because it was detected in March 2022 by the cameras of a wide field survey of the sky called ZTF, Zwicky Transient Facility. This January 12, you can catch her between the constellations of Hercules and Corona Borealis after 2 a.m. To see it at dusk you will have to wait a few days, around January 21. The comet emerges above the northeast horizon earlier and earlier as it migrates towards the Pole Star, and the circumpolar constellations of the Dragon, the Little Dipper and finally the Giraffe, at the time of perigeeperigee (shortest distance from Earth). The comet will therefore soon be circumpolar, which means visible all night, circling around the North Star. Also note in your diaries, its visual rapprochement with Mars on February 11. It will be a magnificent meeting that astrophotographers will not miss.
