After 50,000 years away from Earth, the “green” comet visible this evening in the Belgian sky

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass this Wednesday, February 1, just over 42 million kilometers from Earth, its closest point to the blue planet in 50,000 years.

@BELGAIMAGE

The comet originates from the Oort cloud, a huge region of space rocks and mini-planets.

This comet with its greenish color – because of the carbonaceous molecules and nitrogen escaping from its nucleus under the effect of the heat of the Sun – will, in fact, be at its closest point to Earth on Wednesday February 1 .

A timelapse from 30 minutes of #comet C/2022 E3 ZTF passing through the northern skies. It’s very dim, made visible here by 4-second exposures. pic.twitter.com/nMRvwakKmb

— Ross McLendon (@rossmclendon) January 21, 2023

The comet will have a magnitude of 6, which will barely allow it to be seen with the naked eye. However, it is recommended to use binoculars or a telescope. The comet’s luminosity increased until the end of January and it also rose higher and higher above our horizon, which is why the ZTF will be easily visible throughout the night, indicates the Belgian Observatory.