A lifetime celestial event! Rare 'green comet' will be closest to earth tonight, here's how to watch it in India
Comet is a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and when near the sun, a ‘tail’ of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
Total Views |
And the wait is over, Sky glazers, get ready to witness a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event as a rare bright green comet, officially designated C/2022 E3, is going to come closer to the earth Thursday after reportedly having last been in the vicinity of our planet 50,000 years ago.
As per the reports, C/2022 E3 will be at a distance of 42 million km from Earth. The E3 comet will shoot past our planet at a distance of 2.5 light minutes which is 27m miles, according to experts. The bright green glow of this celestial object will be visible to the naked eye.
Nasa officials said the icy visitor was first spotted in March 2022 while it was inside the orbit of Jupiter. It was discovered by astronomers Frank Masci and Bryce Bolin using the Zwicky Transient Facility on March 2 last year.
What is a comet?
Comet is a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and when near the sun, a ‘tail’ of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
When to watch?
As per the Space Agency, the stargazers in India can view C/2022 E3 in the skies after 9.30 pm with clear sky conditions and darkness. To locate the comet, look south from the Pole Star, and it should be visible as a greenish tinge. The comet will move south and reach the head of the Orion constellation. For the better expiriance, people will need to use binoculars or telescopes.