Watch green comet near Mars today with free telescope livestream

By Brett Tingley last updated about 3 hours ago

If you can't make it outside or if cloudy skies block your view, you can still catch a glimpse of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)



An image of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Alex Boutté in Scotsdale, Arizona. (Image credit: Alex Boutte)

The green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) has a few more chances to wow skywatchers before it potentially leaves the solar system.

The comet is primed for early evening viewing right now, appearing close to the Auriga and Taurus constellations throughout early February. On Thursday (Feb. 9), the comet will begin approaching Mars in the night sky, beside which it will remain for the next four or five nights. If you haven't gotten out to observe the comet with binoculars or a telescope yet, this week could offer a prime opportunity, as Mars can make for an easy-to-find reference point in the sky.

If you can't make it outside or if cloudy skies block your view, you can still catch a glimpse of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)'s close approach to the Red Planet, thanks to the Virtual Telescope Project. Astronomer Gianluca Masi will host a free livestream of the comet as it approaches within 1 degree of Mars on the project's website(opens in new tab) and YouTube channel(opens in new tab). (Your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of sky.) The livestream will start at 2:00 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) on Saturday (Feb. 11).

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered in March 2022 by two astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in California while it was just inside the orbit of Jupiter, 399 million miles (643 million kilometers) away from the sun. Originally thought to be an asteroid, the comet shortly after identified itself with its coma, the cloud of dust and ice surrounding its nucleus. As it has made its way through the inner solar system, the comet has put on quite a show for astrophotographers.

More:
https://www.space.com/comet-c2022-e3-ztf-close-approach-mars-livestream