(Image credit: John Chumack/GalacticImages.com)
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZFT) may make a spectacular display for skywatchers in January and February 2023, when it may be visible to the unaided eye in the night sky.
Discovered in March 2022 by the Zwicky Transient Facility, the comet is making its first pass by Earth in 50,000 years and has not been seen since the time of Neanderthals. Since its discovery, stargazers and astrophotographers have taken amazing images of the gorgeous green comet. See his pictures here.
Read more: Possible naked-eye comet to visit Earth in 2023 for first time since Neanderthals
The photo above was taken by John Chumack of GalacticImages.com in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Chumack writes that the comet “was estimated to shine around 11.00 magnitude, you can certainly see its tail and 2.5 arc-minute green coma.”
The photographer also noted that “there are several faint (16th to 17th magnitude) PGCs [Principal Galaxies Catalogue] The galaxies visible in this image were formed as comets passing through Ursa Major.”
If you’re hoping to see C/2022 E3 (ZTF), our guides to the best binoculars and best binoculars are a great place to start. If you want to photograph the night sky, check out our guide to photographing the Moon, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
editor’s Note: If you snapped Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your picture(s), comments, and your name and location spacephotos@space.com,