Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will make its closest approach to the Sun on January 12, 2023. Perihelion (closest point to the Sun during rotation) of this comet is 1.11 AU (Astronomical Unit) from the Sun.
The comet will pass closest to Earth on February 1st. It will pass at a distance of only 4.2 crore km from Earth. Astronomers expect this comet to be visible to the naked eye from Earth in January-February 2023. It can be seen on February 11-12 if you look in the direction of Mars in the sky. This comet star has three distinct tails.
(ZTF) next to the comet’s name stands for the Zwicky Transient Facility. This comet was first discovered by its Survey Telescope in March 2022. It is estimated that this comet takes about 50000 years to complete one revolution around the Sun. The last time it passed near Earth must have been when Neanderthal man lived on Earth.
The orbits of all the planets in the solar system are approximately in the same plane, but the orbit of this comet is across that plane.
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