What you should know about C/2022 E3, a comet that will visit Earth in 50,000 years

Observation of some celestial bodies from the Earth can be unique. In the specific case of a comet C/2022 E3 It will be even more special because we will be able to observe it in a simple way for the first time in 50,000 years.

This rock, also named ZTF after the Zwicky transition complex from where it was observed, was first discovered near Jupiter in 2022, about 640 million kilometers from the Sun.

Thanks to this, scientists were able to calculate that the last time a comet passed by the Earth was during the Upper Paleolithic period, when Neanderthals were still roaming the world.

Now, thousands of years later, in just a few days, she will be 42.5 million kilometers from our planet, so this will be the exact stage to learn more about her. But first: what do we need to know about it?

What you should know about C/2022 E3

The first thing we must define is, of course, what is kite.

These smaller stars are made up of dust, rocks, and ice particles and orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with high eccentricity (large distances), meaning that their approach is thousands of years along each route.

They spend long periods of time in the cold regions of the solar system, but as they approach the Sun, they heat up and cause the phenomenon of sublimation, causing their ice to change from solid to gaseous and revealing the famous “tails” for which it is known and represents.

kite It is so called for the following reasons.

Letter FROM. means that kite it is not periodic (it will only pass through the solar system once, or it may take over 200 years to orbit the sun);

2022E3 means that the comet was discovered in early March 2022 (which corresponds to the letter E in the naming system kites approved by the International Astronomical Union) and became the third such object discovered during the same period.

ZTF are the abbreviations for the telescopes at the Zwicky transition site from where the discovery was made.

kite now it is moving towards the inner part of the solar system, gradually becoming brighter.

On January 12, 2023, it reached perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun, at a distance of 1.11 astronomical units (AU).

On February 1, 2023, it will pass Earth at a distance of 0.28 AU, flying through the constellation Camel. This is the best time to see kiteas it will reach maximum brightness. The expected magnitude in different sources varies from 5.1 to 7.35.

It is estimated that by then the comet will be visible with binoculars or, according to some forecasts, even with the naked eye.

It will also depend on the light pollution in your area and whether we have clear or cloudy skies.

From Lima, Peru, it can be seen on February 2 from 19:00, looking at the northern horizon.

“Cities located in the northern part of our territory will be able to observe the comet a little higher on the horizon compared to places located in the southern part. Always remembering that we must move away from the light pollution of big cities and look for a free northern horizon of elevated objects, ”says Dr. Nobar Baella, researcher at the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP).

On February 5, in the early hours of the night and looking towards the northern horizon, the comet will be near the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the famous “Capella”, which will be favorable for the location of the comet. C/2022 E3.

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