A comet discovered in 2022 looks promising for the start of 2023. Named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), it crosses the solar system and could become visible to the naked eye.
The year 2023 could begin with a comet visible to the naked eye from Earth. Nothing is certain yet, because comets are unpredictable objects. But, it is however allowed to hope that one of these objects, in the process of approaching our planet, becomes sufficiently brilliant so that we can observe it.
L’astronomical unit (au) is a unit of length to express dimensions in the solar system and the Universe. 1 to = 149,597,870,700 meters. This corresponds to the Earth-Sun distance.
The comet is named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), as reported Space on January 2, 2023. It was discovered in March 2022 with the Zwicky Transient Facility, an astronomical survey using a telescope from the Palomar observatory (California). The object was then in the orbit of Jupiter. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is currently crossing the solar system and should be closest to us on February 1, 2023. The comet will then be at 0.28390 astronomical units of the Earth, a little more than 42 million km.
During the last passage of the comet, we were at the time of the Paleolithic
Before that, the comet will pass closest to the Sun on its trajectory. This is called perihelion: the point in an object’s trajectory at which its distance from the Sun is minimum — the Earth also passes through perihelion. The perihelion of C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is scheduled for January 12, about 160 million km from the star.
It takes approximately 50,000 years for the comet to revolve around the Sun. Which means, Space notes, that the last time C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was supposed to be this close was during the Upper Paleolithic era on Earth. This is the period characterized by the expansion of anatomically modern humans throughout the world », according to Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research).
Since its discovery in March 2022, “ the long-period comet has brightened dramatically and is now sweeping across the northern hemisphere constellation of Corona Borealis in the pre-dawn sky », summarizes Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD, a site hosted by NASA). The object is still too faint to be observed without a telescope. However, if C/2022 E3 (ZTF) continues to be brighter and brighter, this could change: it is not impossible that we will soon be able to spot it with binoculars, or even with the naked eye.
” The brightness of comets is notoriously unpredictable, but until then [ndlr : début 2023]C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could become just visible to the naked eye in a dark night sky “, according to APOD. French astrophysicist Eric Lagadec, from the Côte d’Azur observatory, confirms on Twitter that if the comet becomes visible without an instrument, it will probably require a place of observation far from light pollution to hope to distinguish it.
If the comet becomes visible, when will we see it in the northern hemisphere?
If the comet becomes visible to the human eye, when should it be attempted to be observed? ” Northern Hemisphere observers will find the comet in the morning skyas it moves rapidly northwest in January », says NASA. For spectators in the southern hemisphere, it will be necessary to wait until the beginning of February.
Many surely remember the incredible spectacle offered by comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in 2020. However, do not imagine that C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be as grandiose to observe, warns NASA. ” But, it’s still a great opportunity to create a personal connection with an icy visitor from the far reaches of the solar system.. »
