Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered in March 2022 by astronomers using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility.
It’s closest approach to Earth was on 1st February 2023 on it’s way back out of the solar system. It was at a distance of around 42.6 million kilometres from the Earth at the time this time-lapse was shot. It’s nucleus was estimated to be around 1km in diameter, rotating every 8.7 hours.
The last time it visited the inner solar system was around 50,000 years ago and it's believed it may not return again due to it's current trajectory/speed, which may allow it to break the gravitational pull of the Sun, taking it off into deep space.
Even if it does return it could take millions of years!
Негізгі бет Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) (Leicestershire, UK, 31st January 2022
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