One of the astronomical phenomena that has captured the attention of the whole world for this 2023 is the sighting of the so-called green comet, which we are privileged to see since it is something that has not been repeated in thousands of years.
With a diameter of just one kilometer, the green comet is an icy and rocky ball that was discovered thanks to the “Zwicky Transient Facility” (ZTF) program, carried out in California. Every time it goes around the Sun and as it gets closer to the heat, the solid elements that make up this comet begin to sublimate, which causes its tail to turn green.
Also, the last time the green comet was visible on Earth was 50,000 years ago, in the Upper Paleolithic era.
When and how to see the passage of the green comet in the United States and Mexico
According to The Planetary Society, it will be in the first days of February when the green comet will be closest to Earth, so it will become brighter and therefore easier to see.
Its final maximum proximity will be at a distance of approximately 42 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 28% between the Earth and the Sun, according to Space.com.
It is also important that this comet is not as bright as other famous ones, so in order to see it it will be necessary to find a place where there are few lights, clear skies and little pollution.
The experts also indicate that it will be this February 1 and 2 that the green comet can be seen without the need for special astronomical devices. You only have to look at the northern skies, after sunset. It will be until February 10 that the celestial body will remain visible, although as the days go by the range will be less.
Brian Keating, who is an astrophysicist at UC San Diego, indicated that the green comet will be visible in that Californian city in the last hour of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the best time being the period between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. morning. Likewise, he also advises the use of binoculars or a telescope to appreciate it better, which will be seen as a green spot or patch.
The In the sky blog indicated that the brightest moment of the green comet will be this February 2 at 10:45 p.m. (Eastern Time), since it will be at the highest point in the sky, above the northern horizon. It will be visible at dusk and disappear shortly before 6 am the next day.
How to see the green comet live
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