A comet is flying towards Earth, which was last seen by Neanderthals
Miscellaneous / / April 03, 2023
It can be seen with the naked eye.
Over the next few months, an object last seen by Neanderthals could be spotted in the sky. We are talking about the comet C / 2022 E3 (ZTF), which was discovered on March 2, 2022 by astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility.
By estimated scientists, this comet makes a complete revolution around the sun every 50,000 years, which means that the last time since Its lands could be observed during the Upper Paleolithic period, when people were just beginning to settle in Asia and Europe.
So far, the comet is too faint to be seen without a telescope. However, it will be possible to observe it with the naked eye somewhere in late January and early February 2023.
Now C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is approaching perihelion, which will reach 12 January. And closest to the Earth, in perigee, it will be February 1st. Around this time, the comet will be visible to the naked eye, although Sky at Night indicates that it would most likely look like a speck of chalk dust on a chalkboard, rather than blindingly bright dot.
C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first thought to be an asteroid. It was discovered using a telescope only 1.2 meters high. The comet will safely pass the Earth at a distance of about 44 million kilometers.
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