NASA Shares First Detailed Views of Interstellar Comet C/2023 E3 (ZTF)
WASHINGTON – NASA has released detailed images of comet C/2023 E3 (ZTF), a rare interstellar visitor currently making its closest approach to Earth.The comet, first spotted by the ZTF telescope in Chile, is currently about 190 million miles (307 million kilometers) from our planet, and was recently captured in striking detail by the Virtual Telescope Project’s Gianluca Masi from Italy.
This comet’s journey offers a unique opportunity for scientists to study material from beyond our solar system, providing clues about the formation of planetary systems around other stars. C/2023 E3 (ZTF) is estimated to be between 1,444 feet (440 meters) and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in diameter. It will reach its closest point to Earth – 167 million miles (269 million kilometers) – in mid-December before heading back into interstellar space, a journey from which it will not return.
The european Space Agency’s Juice spacecraft, en route to Jupiter, has also been observing the comet with its cameras and scientific instruments, notably after its closest approach to the sun. Though,data from Juice won’t be available until February,as its main antenna is currently acting as a heat shield during its solar proximity,limiting data transmission.
For those on Earth, the comet is visible in the predawn sky with the aid of binoculars or a telescope. This is a fleeting opportunity to witness a celestial object originating from outside our solar system, offering a glimpse into the diverse building blocks of planetary systems throughout the galaxy.
