There’s a good chance the once-every-50,000-years comet will be visible Wednesday and Thursday nights
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Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 22 hrs ago Beck Andrew Salgado, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This week Wisconsinites will have the opportunity to experience a once-in-many-lifetimes event as a recently discovered “green comet” will pass Earth for the first time in 50,000 years.
The comet, named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), was discovered by NASA in March of 2022 and as it currently passes through our inner solar system it continues to brighten.
Experts have suggested that the comet is now bright enough to see with the naked eye which means C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could be the first visible comet since 2020.
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Here is everything you need to know about this extraordinary celestial event.
When is the best time to see it?
The best nights to see the comet will be Wednesday and Thursday this week as this is when the green comet’s orbit will be closest to Earth — getting as close as 26 million miles when passing.
Late night or early morning hours are suggested for maximizing visibility and the comet should be recognizable in the sky due to the distinct greenish-blue streak that trails behind it.
Where should I look?
The comet will be in the northern part of the sky and could be passing near Polaris — or what is the tip of the little dipper.
However, the best option to locate the comet could be by using a stargazing app that will direct you on how to find the comet in the night sky.
Will it be visible in Wisconsin?
It should be noted that there is still a chance that the comet will not become bright enough to be visible for people in areas with high light pollution. However, since the comet has continued to brighten there is a good chance it will be visible across Wisconsin.
Barring a cloudy sky, the comet should be visible, but to enhance your chances of seeing the comet it is recommended to use a pair of binoculars or better yet a telescope.
What will the weather be like?
According to The National Weather Service, Wednesday night should be partly cloudy while Thursday night should be mostly clear.
What is comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)?
According to Live Science, the comet was discovered in March of 2022 at the Zwicky Transient Facility in Southern California.
Defined by the green light it emits, this particular comet has a longer path than others in the past like C/2020 F3 in 2020 and the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997. These comets had paths of roughly 6,900 and 2,400 years, which pales in comparison to C/2022 E3’s 50,000-year path.
The comet is also expected to be dimmer than C/2020 F3 was in 2020.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: There’s a good chance the once-every-50,000-years comet will be visible Wednesday and Thursday nights