A brilliant green comet has already generated some amazing imagery as it speeds towards its closest approach to Earth next month.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered by astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) at Palomar Observatory in California in March 2022, when it orbits Earth at a distance of 399 million miles (643 million kilometers) from the Sun. Was right inside Jupiter. The comet’s long orbital period (the amount of time it takes to complete one orbit of the Sun) means that C/2022 E3 (ZTF) has not been observed from Earth for approximately 50,000 years.
As the icy wanderer approaches perigee (its closest point to Earth) on February 2, astrophotographers around the world are capturing incredible images of the breathtaking green comet. A photo submitted by Soumyadeep Mukherjee from Kolkata, India, depicts what the photographer calls “Three Days in the Life of a Comet”, which spans from December 27 to December 29, 2022.
Connected: Amazing photos of the brilliant green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
More: How to View and Photograph Comets
Mukherjee took the photographs using a Takahashi FSQ-106ED telescope and FLI PL16083 camera with Astrodon LRGB filter. Each of the three images combined to form “Three Days in the Life of a Comet” was made with three 240-second exposures. Post-processing was done with Pixinsight software.
According to the observatory’s website, the photos were taken at the IC Astronomy Observatory in Spain’s Tabernas Desert, an area that “has one of the clearest nights in continental Europe”. (opens in new tab), observatory is part of Telescope Live (opens in new tab)A global network of robotic professional-grade telescopes that can be “rented” for remote astronomy sessions.
Connected: Green comet a rare ‘messenger from the outer reaches of the solar system’
“The image captures the movement of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF in the night sky over three days (December 27, 28 and 29 2022),” Mukherjee told Space.com. “I am an amateur photographer from Kolkata, India. I have been imaging objects in the sky for the last 2 years.” More of Mukherjee’s astronomical photography can be found on Instagram (opens in new tab),
Want to get a closer look at Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) or take your own photos? Be sure to check out our guides on the best binoculars and best binoculars that can help. While you’re at it, brush up on our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography so you can get the best comet photos possible.
editor’s Note: If you take your own awesome photos of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and want to share them with Space.com readers, send your picture(s), comments, and your name and location. spacephotos@space.com,
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