Author Topic: Green Comet C/2022 E3 (Read 1782 times)

andyoxon · « **on:** 25 January, 2023, 06:26:01 pm »

Anyone seen it yet?

Last visible (naked eye) from earth during the stone age ~50K yra. Furthest point of orbit ~2800AU (Earth - Sun). Max vis apparently 1/2 Feb, Ursa Minor - North sky.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/23/exotic-green-comet-not-seen-since-stone-age-returns-to-skies-above-earth

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 January, 2023, 06:36:43 pm »

I read that you need to be in a remote, light-free area to see it. But it is rather cool to think we're seeing something that was last seen at the dawn of agriculture. And it's green; what did our ancestors make of it?

Pingu · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 January, 2023, 06:41:48 pm »

Quote

Bright green, drawing a green mist behind it, a beautiful, but somehow disturbing sight

I'd avoid Horsell Common.

andyoxon · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 January, 2023, 06:45:35 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 25 January, 2023, 06:36:43 pm

I read that you need to be in a remote, light-free area to see it. But it is rather cool to think we're seeing something that was last seen at the dawn of agriculture. And it's green; what did our ancestors make of it?

May be useful... Light Pollution & Dark Skies: https://nightblight.cpre.org.uk/maps/ Praps be a good excuse to bike up to the Ridgeway with binos when/if forecast clear.

ETA. Moon (if light a prob) doesn't set until ~05:45hrs

hellymedic · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 January, 2023, 09:06:08 pm »

D caught it a few days ago on his sophisticated kit, in Outer London.

andyoxon · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 January, 2023, 08:13:00 am »

I had a brief look with binos last night, but couldn't see it. Wonder how much brighter it will get.

Lightning Phil · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 January, 2023, 08:23:00 am »

Bit foggy then wet last night, lucky to see a street light, let alone comet.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 January, 2023, 10:37:27 am »

It's big! ^^ Definitely an alien spacecraft but disappointed it doesn't actually look green.

andyoxon · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 January, 2023, 09:27:07 am »

Spotted it was clear late last night, so set up my phone (wide angle lens) on tripod, and went comet hunting...

Took 4 min image on 'Astro mode', and using Stellarium app, managed to locate it on the image. To the right of Little Bear. Definitely appears green.

Went back outside with binos, no cigar - too much light, even an uber bright street light behind me.

Not very impressive, but...

Crop_PXL_20230127_Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) labels by a oxon, on Flickr

Crop_PXL_20230127_Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) by a oxon, on Flickr

(wonders if Helly's posted image - has colour version?

)

Sky at night map...

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/

drgannet · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 January, 2023, 10:48:19 am »

I would say that was quite impressive, actually.

The forecast is for clear skiws again tonight, so I am planning on pointing the telescope at it...

andyoxon · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 January, 2023, 04:55:54 pm »

Have fun.

drgannet · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 January, 2023, 04:12:37 pm »

Cloudy last night (not forecast)

andyoxon · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 January, 2023, 10:19:07 pm »

Yes, cloud cover forecasts seem a tad hit & miss. Possibly some clear skies on Tues 31/1 night...

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/maps-and-charts/rainfall-radar-forecast-map

Basil · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 January, 2023, 11:35:15 pm »

No. Cloudy tonight again.

jiberjaber · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 January, 2023, 10:10:39 am »

I finally got my self out to look at the sky on Friday night, worked up enough enthusiasm to set up my tracking mount for the camera, by which time predictably the clouds had rolled in...

I've made tentative steps towards getting the telescope up and running, it's not been out for a while perhaps a year and a half.... looks like there will be a gap of about an hour tonight where I might get a test run of imaging done...

https://clearoutside.com/forecast/51.72/0.47

andyoxon · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 January, 2023, 07:38:19 pm »

Visible now in Oxfordshire, with bright moon out, & light pollution t'boot. Managed to see it (just) with binos, as a faint fuzziness (right of polaris), with sharp stars around.

drgannet · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 January, 2023, 09:49:20 pm »

Faint views tonight with bins.

Pete Lawrence appears to be a day out though!

hellymedic · « **Reply #17 on:** 31 January, 2023, 08:07:49 pm »

jiberjaber has posted a nice image on Facebook...

jiberjaber · « **Reply #18 on:** 31 January, 2023, 10:46:13 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 31 January, 2023, 08:07:49 pm

jiberjaber has posted a nice image on Facebook...

I'm hoping to have something better after I get through the mountain of processing

I tried looking up with the small binos I have tonight but teh devil's lightbulb is too close, hopfully it will be setting soon to a place in the sky with less interference

hellymedic · « **Reply #19 on:** 01 February, 2023, 04:39:00 pm »

Nice animation, j!

jiberjaber · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 February, 2023, 06:25:09 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 01 February, 2023, 04:39:00 pm

Nice animation, j!

Thanks - I still havent got round to the processing proper, proper work has suddenly ramped up

and I am seriously regretting not using my DSLR as I now have 4x the processing to do.

andyoxon · « **Reply #21 on:** 01 February, 2023, 06:54:24 pm »

Looking forward to the finished artcle...

jiberjaber · « **Reply #22 on:** 01 February, 2023, 07:05:12 pm »

I rushed this video together just now as I get ready to head out on MEMWNS to the pub... hopefully it works..

https://youtu.be/r455ZPIaL64

Pingu · « **Reply #23 on:** 01 February, 2023, 10:02:25 pm »

It does

andyoxon · « **Reply #24 on:** 02 February, 2023, 09:32:40 am »

Great comet sequence!