ORLANDO, Fla. – Comet ZTF is making its closest pass to earth over the first couple of days of February. If you’re trying to catch a glimpse of the once-in-50,000-year event, it’s going to take some work.
You will likely need a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to find it in the sky.
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We pointed out last month that the hype behind this comet was unjustified. This is certainly an exciting event, but this was never going to be another Hale-Bopp. Hale-Bopp was a great comet from the mid-90s that was clearly visible to the naked eye, even in the city.
Even in remote areas away from light pollution, you will likely need binoculars or a small telescope to see this comet. The moon will also make things challenging for most of the night so the best time to find ZTF will be before sunrise and after about 4 a.m. as the moon starts to set.
Comet ZTF will be hovering between the bright star Capella, low on the horizon, and the Big Dipper in the northwest sky. It will likely appear as a gray or green smudge with the help of binoculars or a small telescope.
While the comet itself will get fainter as it moves away from Earth and gets deep into the solar system, it may be easier to spot through the middle of the month as the moonlight becomes less of a factor.
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