The green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will make a close approach to Earth on Feb. 1 before sailing off into deep space for millions of years.
On Feb. 1, a bright-green comet named C/2022 E3 will make a close approach to Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. Swooping within 26 million miles of our planet, the comet will offer a rare night-sky spectacle last seen when modern humans shared our planet with Neanderthals.
The green comet's pathWhen astronomers first detected C/2022 E3 in March 2022, the comet was racing through the solar system around 399 million miles from the sun, or just within the orbit of Jupiter. Even though the object was faint — about 25,000 times fainter than the dimmest stars visible to the naked eye, according to Live Science's sister site Space.com — the researchers soon made out a distinct tail, or coma, proving the object was indeed a comet rather than an asteroid.
A few days later, on Feb. 5 and 6, the comet will pass across the night sky to the west of the star Capella and then seem to enter the constellation Auriga. From there, it will descend toward Taurus, becoming ever dimmer as it moves away from Earth, back out toward the edge of the solar system.
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