Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

[otto_kretschmer]

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), aka the green comet, is passing by right now. The last time it was this close to Terra was 50k years ago.

A couple nights ago I went in my backyard and took a look but there was too much light in the city. I couldn't even find the little dipper. I wanted to see it so I got up 2 AM today and drove an hour, half way to Sonoita, and found a spot where it would be away from the lights in the city.

I find a spot about 3:15 and the moon is still up a quarter up the sky from the horizon. I looked up when the moon would set and the internet said it was 3:34 but I had to wait to 4:30, so I guess the internet source was on daylight savings while Arizona is not.

It was cold. I took a bean bag chair with me and binoculars. When the moon goes below the horizon I get out of my car and plonk down on the bean bag chair and start scanning after locating the big and little dippers.

https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-to-see-comet-2022-e3-ztf

It didn't take me long. I saw a smudge in the sky among the pixels of stars and I knew that must be it.



I started shivering so I packed up and went to MacDonalds for breakfast to celebrate.

The comet should be visible for a few more days so if you want to see it, do it now.