Comet “C/2022 E3 (ZTF)”, an icy and rocky body approximately 1 km in diameter, was discovered in March 2022 when it passed through the orbit of Jupiter thanks to the “Zwicky Transient Facility” program, which operates the telescope Samuel-Oschin of the Palomar Observatory, in the city of California, United States.
Astronomers who have been following its journey for months reported that on January 12 it will reach its closest point to the Sun. That’s when the ice that contains its core turns into a gaseous state and releases a long tail that reflects the light of the king sun. This bright trail is what will be visible from Earth, initially in the northern hemisphere, as “C/2022 E3 (ZTF)” gets closer.
Thomas Prince, a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology, cautioned that given its small size, it will be less spectacular than Hale-Bopp (1997) or Neowise (2020).
In addition, he indicated that this astronomical phenomenon can be seen better at night, if the sky is clear, the moonlight does not disturb, and in a place where light pollution can be reduced as much as possible. “Maybe we’re lucky and it will be twice as bright as expected”added astrophysicist Nicolas Biver, from the Paris Observatory-PSL.
The best observation window will be the weekend of January 21 and 22, and the following week. During that time it will move between the constellations of Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. Then, it can be seen in the southern hemisphere.
“We’re going to be watching it all over the place. It’s not the comet of the century, but we’re happy to be able to watch comets like this every year or two, because we think of them as remnants of the formation of the solar system.”Biver explained.