E3 (ZTF): The First Comet To Be Seeded by the Untrained Eye since 2020 and its Possible Connection to Dirty Snowballs

There is no need to keep your eyes open for the comet. During January and early February, they can use a telescope or binoculars to find E3 (ZTF) at first. As the comet races closer to Earth, however, there’s a chance the comet could become visible to the naked eye under dark skies. If that happens, it will be the first comet to be seen by the untrained eye since 2020.

According to NASA, the comet is expected to make its closest approach to the sun on January 12. Then, about three weeks later, beginning Feb. 1, the comet is slated to draw nearest to Earth — 26.4 million miles away to be exact.

The comets do not emit their own light. They’re sometimes described as celestial “dirty snowballs” because they’re masses of ice, gases, rock, and dust. The ice gives the comet it’s tail. The ice also reflects the sun’s light, which makes it appear to glow.

Comet C/2022 E3: A Comet From The Outer Solar System Or Was It Last Visible in the Early Stages of the Stone Age?

According to a video posted this week, it is still an awesome chance for a personal connection with an icy visitor from the distant outer solar system.

“If C/2022 E3 has ever passed through the solar system before, it would have last been seen in the sky more than 10,000 years ago,” says Jon Giorgini, a senior analyst at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The Zwicky Transient Facility on Palomar Mountain in California was where the brightening outburst was first seen by Astronomers. The comet was outside of Jupiter.

It is possible that it could get enough energy to get out of the solar system or that it will stay on an elliptical path around the sun.

The comet is going to zip by Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. It was last visible in the night sky during the Stone Age.

Early morning skies, once the moon has set after midnight for those in the Northern Hemisphere, are optimal for viewing the comet. The space object will be more difficult to see for those in the Southern Hemisphere.

The coma is an envelope that forms around a comet as it passes close to the sun, causing its ice to sublimate, or turn directly to gas. The comet looks fuzzy when viewed through telescopes.

The comet can be seen in the skies above Rome if there are clouds or bad weather. And don’t miss the other celestial events to see in 2023.