Newly discovered comet could be visible to naked eye in 2023
Posted January 9, 2023 10:10 am.
A newly discovered comet could possibly be visible to the naked eye as it passes Earth in 2023.
NASA says Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered in March 2022 and has now brightened enough that it could possibly be seen in dark night skies when it is closest to our planet.
The comet’s perigee, which is the point that its orbit is nearest the Earth, will be on Feb. 1.
The comet was discovered with a wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility. Astronomers classified ZTF as a long-period comet, which means it takes over 200 years to orbit the sun.
Right now, ZTF is travelling through the inner Solar System, moving across the northern constellation Corona Borealis, and isn’t yet visible without a telescope.
