After hunting for comets for days, finally the OAIL ITERA observing team succeeded in capturing comet C/2022 E3(ZTF).
” data-image-caption=”
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) photographed by the ITERA OAIL observer team from Lampung. Credit: OAIL ITERA
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1″ decoding=”async” width=”1024″ height=”576″ alt=”” class=”wp-image-35811″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=768%2C432&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=89%2C50&ssl=1 89w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=1536%2C864&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?resize=870%2C489&ssl=1 870w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C2022E3.001.jpeg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” data-recalc-dims=”1″/>
Comets that appear green are due to the reaction of diatomic carbon molecules (C2) was successfully captured on January 16, 2022 before sunrise. This comet was photographed by the ITERA Astronomy Observatory Lampung (OAIL) observer team who made observations from 13-16 January 2023 with the OZT-ALTS robotic telescope. The cloudy weather conditions meant that the team was only able to obtain data on January 14-16.
Discovery
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). On January 12, 2023, this comet will reach its closest approach to the Sun and may never return because it has already left the Solar System.
C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was first discovered by Bryce Bolin and Frank Masci in observations using Zwicky Transient Facility. So, it’s no wonder that this comet is named ZTF. Observations with the 1.2-meter Schmidt telescope on Mount Palomar show the presence of an object that looks like a smudge in the image taken, with a brightness of 17.3 magnitude. This object was found in the constellation Aquila at a distance of 4.3 AU.
Initially, this rather dim object was thought to be an asteroid. However, Hirohisa Sato’s observations the following night revealed the presence of a coma, a hazy veil around the comet’s core. Finally, the status of the asteroid was changed to a comet.
Closer to Earth
From observational data, astronomers can confirm that the comet is moving closer to the Sun and reaching the closest distance of 1.11 AU or 166 million km on January 12, 2023. After that, this comet will move away from the Sun and reach perigee or the closest distance to Earth. on 1 February 2023 at a distance of 0.28 AU or 42 million km.
When a comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is closest to Earth, its brightness also increases.
Imagine that a vehicle is coming from far away at night. When approaching, the car lights that were faint before will be brighter. That’s what happens when comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) approaches Earth. Its brightness increases to 5.5 magnitude and can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope.
Observers in very dark locations may have the opportunity to observe with the unaided eye. However, comets will appear as dim, hazy smudges crossing the sky. Therefore, the best instruments for viewing this comet are binoculars or a telescope. Keep in mind that the limit of the brightness of objects that the eye can see is 6th magnitude.
Go and don’t come back
The presence of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is arguably a rarity to see. How come?
C/2022 E3 (ZTF). From its name, this comet is categorized as a long-period comet or a comet with a periodicity of more than 200 years!
That means, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will only return to the Sun after more than 200 years or even never return because it has left the Solar System.
We can know the orbit of a comet from the eccentricity or elongation of its orbit. For comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), the eccentricity is 1.00033. An eccentricity equal to one marks the shape of the orbit almost forming a parabola with a periodicity of 50,000 years. However, with an eccentricity of more than one, the orbit has begun to lead as a hyperbolic orbit. Meanwhile, its orbit is tilted 109º to the plane of the ecliptic.
From its orbit, this comet may leave and not return because it has left the Solar System.
Observation
Since its discovery in the constellation Aquila in 2022, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) has increased in brightness as it approaches the Sun. Currently, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is in the constellation Bootes and will soon cross the constellations Draco, Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis, Auriga and Taurus. When comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reaches perigee or its closest approach to Earth, it will appear near the north celestial pole in the Camelopardalis constellation.
On February 10-11, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will appear 1.5º from Mars and on February 13-15 it will pass in front of the Hyades star cluster. In March, this comet has started to leave Taurus and cross the Eridanus constellation until the end of April. At that time, the brightness was also getting dimmer, namely magnitude 10.
The best time to observe comet C/2022 E3 is early February when it is near Earth. However, observers have also continued to point their telescopes into the sky to catch the presence of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF).
Currently, the comet can be observed before sunrise until January 22/23 before C/2022 E3 transitions into the afternoon after sunset. From late January to early February, comet C/2022 E3 is difficult to observe from Indonesia, and only on February 4 can this comet be observed after sunset.
So, don’t miss the opportunity to hunt for this once-in-a-lifetime comet when it is brightest than Earth.
