GREEN COMET : A HISTORIC ASTRONOMICAL EVENT WILL HAPPEN TODAY
Today February 1, 2023 a rare Green Comet C/2022 E3 will be passing Earth after 50,000 years. Last time it passed by Earth, humans were still in the Stone Age.
This could be humanity’s last chance to see it because this one won’t return for about another 50,000 years, if ever. Since it is circumpolar, it becomes visible all night, reaching its highest point in the sky around 9:48 PM. PAGASA said in its astronomical diary for February. Don’t missed it!
On Feb. 1, a bright-green comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will make a close approach to Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. Swooping within 26 million miles (42 million kilometers) of our planet, the comet will offer a rare night-sky spectacle last seen when modern humans shared our planet with Neanderthals.
To view, look to the northern sky between the big and little dippers. When the comet swoops past Earth on Feb. 1, it will be about as bright as the dimmest stars in the night sky. However, the comet will not look like a sharp, pointed star but rather a diffuse, glowing blur that may spread its light over an area as large as the full moon. Stargazers living in cities or other light-polluted areas will have a hard time viewing the comet. Head to the darkest spot possible, allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for 20 to 30 minutes, then look toward the North Star, Polaris, which is located at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.
Using just your unaided eyes, look for the comet’s glowing aura around this region of the sky. It may be easier to spot the comet this way rather than by trying to pinpoint it with binoculars or a telescope. Once you find it, shift to binoculars to get a more detailed view.
GREEN COMET SAYS HELLO ?
A green comet named Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is seen journeying tens of millions of miles (km) away from Earth in these telescope images on Tuesday.
A green-hued comet that has been lurking in the night sky for months became most visible to stargazers this week as it gradually passes Earth for the first time in about 50,000 years.
The cosmic visitor will swing by our planet at a distance of about 26.4 million miles (42.5 million km).
(Wire photos) | via Reuters
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What Is Green Comet?
Green comets are rare celestial objects that emit a green light due to the presence of diatomic carbon (C2) and other green-emitting molecules in their coma and tails. The green color is caused by the fluorescence of these molecules when they are excited by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Some of the most famous green comets include Comet Hale-Bopp and Comet Neowise.
Comets are small icy bodies that orbit the Sun and are believed to be remnants from the early solar system. They are composed of ice, dust, and other volatile substances that vaporize when they get close to the Sun and form a bright coma around the nucleus. The coma and the tail are illuminated by the Sun and can be seen from Earth, making comets visually striking objects in the night sky.
Green comets are relatively rare, and their green color is caused by the emission of light from molecules such as diatomic carbon (C2) and cyanogen (CN) in the coma and tail. These molecules are excited by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and emit light in specific spectral lines, which give the green color.
The appearance and behavior of comets are affected by various factors, including their size, composition, and the strength of their nuclei. Observing green comets can provide valuable information about the composition and behavior of comets and the early solar system.
If you get a chance to glimpse it, let us know in the comments below!
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Hope this article on GREEN COMET : A HISTORIC ASTRONOMICAL EVENT WILL HAPPEN TODAY helps?
