Comet C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) passes close by the sun this weekend

February 15, 2023

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Whereas all eyes have been on the well-known green comet, formally named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), one other comet has been zooming previous our planet.

The comet C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) made its closest method to Earth on Jan. 17, and it is about to hit perihelion, or the closest level to the sun in its orbit, on Sunday, Feb. 18. Sadly, this comet will seemingly solely be seen for skywatchers with a big telescope.

From Earth, the comet might be seen at perihelion. In line with skywatching web site In-the-Sky.org (opens in new tab), viewers in New York Metropolis will have the ability to see the comet at nightfall on Sunday and daybreak on Monday morning for 2 temporary home windows. C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) will first rise above the horizon within the northwestern skies close to the Cygnus constellation round 6:36 p.m. EST (2336 GMT). The comet will change into troublesome to identify by 7:06 p.m. EST (0006 GMT the morning of Feb. 19) because it sinks to simply 20 levels above the horizon. It should, nonetheless, make one other look within the morning of Feb. 19 — from New York, that may occur round 4:17 a.m. EST (0917 GMT) earlier than disappearing at dawn round 5:39 a.m. EST (1039 GMT).

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Learn extra: How to view and photograph comets

C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) was first found in January 2022 by the Pan-STARRS analysis mission, which primarily makes use of telescopes atop Haleakala, the very best volcano on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The telescopes methodically scan the evening sky in search of Close to-Earth Objects (NEOs), from comets to asteroids, that is likely to be hazardous to Earth.

Fortuitously, most of its discoveries are usually not headed straight for us. C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS), for example, was about 150 million miles (about 240 million kilometers) away from us at its closest method to Earth.

Then again, the Earth is consistently being bombarded by (usually small) space rocks — a three-foot-long (one-meter-long) asteroid just put on a dazzling light show for viewers in France and the UK because it wiped out in our ambiance

In case you’re hoping to catch C/2022 A2 (ZTF) because it approaches the sun, our guides for the best telescopes and best binoculars can steer you in the fitting course for gear. And if you would like to take photographs of the occasion, learn our information sharing how to view and photograph comets, then try our picks for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

Editor’s Observe: In case you get {a photograph} of C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) throughout its go to to the internal solar system and wish to share it with Area.com’s readers, ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your identify and site to spacephotos@space.com.

Comply with Stefanie Waldek on Twitter @StefanieWaldek (opens in new tab). Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and on Facebook (opens in new tab).