Once In 50,000-Years Comet To Fly By Earth, May Be Visible To Naked Eye

NEW DELHI: Astronomers predict that a newly found comet, which will pass Earth in the next weeks for the first time in 50,000 years, could be seen with the unaided eye under dark night skies. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is named after the Zwicky Transient Facility, which used the wide-field survey camera to make the initial discovery of it in March 2022.

Nasa said late last month that although the long-period comet has brightened significantly since its discovery, it is still too dim to be seen without a telescope. On January 12 and February 1, the comet will be closest to the Sun and Earth, respectively. By February 1, the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could become "just slightly visible to the eye in dark night skies," despite comet brightness being notoriously erratic.

However, visibility may be impacted by a sky that is illuminated by the Moon or city lights.

The comet, which is formed of ice and dust, may be clearly seen in a fine telescopic image along with its brighter greenish coma, short broad dust tail, and long faint ion tail. According to an astronomer at the Paris Observatory quoted by AFP, the comet's diameter is thought to be roughly a kilometre. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is predicted to be much smaller than NEOWISE, the last comet to pass Earth in March 2020 that could be seen with the unaided eye.

While C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass by Earth for the first time in around 50,000 years, it very well may be the final time that the comet will be seen so close to the planet. The comet's next trip to the inner Solar System is anticipated in 50,000 years, according to Thomas Prince, a physics professor at the California Institute of Technology.

However, according to astrophysicist Nicolas Biver of the Paris Observatory, it's possible that after its forthcoming encounter, the comet may be "permanently evicted from the Solar System." The comet will journey into deep space and never return because it is on an open parabolic orbit, according to reports.

Also read: China Restricts 1,120 Covid Critics' Social Media Accounts

Also watch: