The object, named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is a long-period comet that was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility Sky Survey using the 1.22-meter Samuel Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory in the United States. The discovery was made on March 2, 2022 by astronomers Bryce Bolin and Frank Masci. At that time, it had a luminosity of 17.3 magnitudes and was 640 million kilometers from the Sun. Initially, it was assumed to be an asteroid, but then its cometary character was discovered.

The comet passed through the point in its orbit closest to the sun (called perihelion) on January 12, at a distance of 1.11 astronomical units (1.11 AU), or 166 million kilometers.

Currently, the object is about 52 million kilometers from Earth, but it will be closest to our planet on February 1, when the distance will be 42 million kilometers (0.28 AU).

Currently, the comet can be seen in the constellation Little Bear – it is visible in the evening from the northern side of the sky, and in the latter part of the night it rises higher above the horizon. In the following days, it will move, which will further improve its visibility conditions, and for example, on February 1, it will be visible in the constellation Giraffe.

The currently observed luminosity of the comet is slightly below 6th magnitude. This is a much better result than the theoretical predictions. The comet is therefore already in the range of luminosity that allows it to be seen with the naked eye in the case of a night sky not illuminated by artificial lights. It will be easier to spot it with binoculars.

On February 5-6, the comet will pass near the bright star Capella, on February 10-11 it will pass in the sky near Mars (at a distance of 1.5 degrees), and on February 13-15 it will pass in front of the open Hyades cluster, near the bright star Aldebaran.

Current information about the comet’s position and brightness can be found, for example, at https://theskylive.com/c2022e3-info or obtained from planetarium-type computer programs (e.g. Free Stellarium, commonly used by astronomy enthusiasts) or appropriate mobile applications. (PORRIDGE)

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