Comet passing closest to Earth this week, visible over Mass., New England - WCVB Boston

Comet passing closest to Earth this week, disposable implicit Mass., New England

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

A precocious discovered comet volition marque its closest way to Earth this week. Sky gazers tin spot the comet, named ZTF (C/2022 E3), with the assistance of bully binoculars oregon a telescope.

Comet ZTF volition beryllium located betwixt the Big and Little Dippers, successful the bluish sky, implicit the past mates nights of January. The champion times to drawback a glimpse of the comet are successful the aboriginal greeting hours, aft moonset, according to Cambridge-based Sky and Telescope.

Contrary to galore reports, the comet volition not look greenish to astir people, according to Sky and Telescope's main editor, Kelly Beatty.

"Our eyes can't spot colour good astatine night," Beatty said, adding, "A greenish hue isn't uncommon with comets."

Beatty cautions nighttime entity viewers not to acceptable expectations excessively precocious erstwhile trying to spot Comet ZTF.

"Strong moonlight and airy contamination volition beryllium “comet killers” due to the fact that the comet is conscionable a fuzzy ball," Beatty said.

The agleam satellite volition interfere with viewing arsenic the satellite heads toward its afloat phase, betwixt Feb. 3-5. Then, the champion viewing times volition beryllium aft sunset, earlier the satellite rises, betwixt Feb. 6-22.

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