Gröna kometen synlig i natt – sågs senast av neandertalare
Uppdaterad | Publicerad
En komet som senast kunde beskådas från jorden för 50 år sedan, av neandertalare, gör nu ett nytt besök.
Som en grönskimrande prick med svans kommer den blida förbi uppe på himlavalvet.
Nu kommer gröna kometen – här ser du den bäst
Kometen, vars namn är C/ E3 eller ZTF, passerar på ett tryggt avstånd, ungefär 42 miljoner kilometer från jorden – men nära nog för att kunna skådas med en vanlig kikare, en klar och mörk natt.
Närmast jorden kommer den att vara den 1 februari, men redan i natt finns det chans att se den uppe på himlavalvet.
Är himlen tillräckligt mörk och molnfri kommer kometen att vara möjlig att skåda hela veckan. Men ju mer månen växer, desto svårare blir den att se.
Hit ska du kika
Kometen kommer först att vara synlig i nord eller nordvästlig riktning, nära Polstjärnan. Ta sikte på stjärnbilden Karlavagnens ”handtag” och leta uppåt från den.
Den gröna kometen kommer sedan att passera mellan Lilla och Stora björn i nordost.
Är det mörkt nog tidigt på söndagsmorgonen ska du titta åt ost-sydost.
Med bra kikare eller ett telesop blir den lätt att följa, so
A rare green comet is set to light up the night sky in
Stargazers are buzzing with excitement about this upcoming celestial show.
The comet, known as 12P/Pons-Brooks, has a unique green glow and an odd shape that&#;s earned it some fun nicknames.
The green comet will be visible to the naked eye in April , reaching its peak brightness as it passes close to Earth.
This is a special treat for astronomy fans, as most comets can only be seen with telescopes or binoculars.
The comet&#;s striking color comes from the gases it releases as it heats up near the sun.
People are calling this visitor the &#;devil comet&#; or &#;mother of dragons&#; comet because of its horned appearance.
These funny names add to the charm of this cosmic event.
As the comet gets closer, more people will be able to spot its green glow and long tail in the night sky.
What Is the Green Comet?
The green comet is a fascinating celestial object that caught the attention of stargazers in early
It gets its name from its distinctive green glow, caused by specific molecules in its makeup.
Discovery and Designation
The green comet, officially named C/ E3 (ZTF), was first spotted by astronomers in Ma
How to see the green comet C/ E3 (ZTF) visible in the night sky now as it approaches Earth
The gorgeous green comet C/ E3 (ZTF) should now be visible to the naked eye under the right dark sky conditions.
The comet is rapidly approaching perigee, its closest point to Earth, which is making it easier to spot in the night sky. The comet, first discovered in March by astronomers Frank Masci and Bryce Bolin using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) at the Palomar Observatory in California, has been brightening since November, wowing astrophotographers with its brilliant green tail.
Comet C/ E3 (ZTF) is currently making its way through the northern skies and should reach its brightest magnitude in early February, according to as it approaches perigee on Feb. 1. To see the comet for yourself, look to the north just after sunset and look for a faint greenish glow. Under the right dark sky conditions, the comet could be visible to the unaided eye, but binoculars will certainly make the job easier.
Related: Amazing photos of the green comet C/ E3 (ZTF)
More: How to view and photograph comets
Comet C/ E3 (ZTF) is available for tracking in most major astronomy an
Can You Find the Faint Green Comet?
Find the Moon, planets, and stars on our Night Sky Map
What Is the Green Comet?
C/ E3 (ZTF) is a green-ish comet that was discovered on March 2 last year.
It reached its closest point to the Sun on January 12. The Green Comet will be at its closest to Earth—and at its brightest in our skies—on February 1.
Comets are small bodies made of ice and dust. Their orbits around the Sun carry them from the far, outer parts of the solar system to the inner solar system, where they can become visible from Earth.
When comets are close to the Sun, they warm up. Sometimes—but not always—they develop distinctive tails of gas and dust. The head of the comet can glow green due to the presence of a chemical called diatomic carbon.
Can I See It with the Naked Eye?
The brightness of an object for observers on Earth is measured by apparent magnitude. The higher the number, the fainter the object.
The magnitude of Sirius, the brightest star, is ; Polaris, the North Pole star, is . The faintest magnitude that can be seen with the naked eye in good dark-sky conditions is roughly .
At its brightest, the magnitude of C/ E3 (ZTF) is p
.