There is only a little more than a day left to see the green comet in the sky. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass very close to Earth between February 1 and 2, leaving behind it a characteristic bright green trail. A comet whose trajectory can also be followed through the Sky Map app, without leaving our homes.
When contemplating this type of celestial bodies approaching the Earth (quiet, it is not an asteroid, although there are thousands of these close to us) we must take into account the light pollution to which we are exposed, especially if we live in big cities. If you want to know where to see the green comet, it would not hurt to take a look at the web app Light Pollution Map.
The premise is simple: with a single glance at the Light Pollution Map, you can see which parts of the area where you live have the most light pollution. That is, those places where there is a large amount of artificial lighting that, at night, affects the visibility of the sky and the stars.
The areas marked with the colors white, pink and red are those where there is a greater amount of artificial lighting, and from there it decreases in intensity depending on whether it is yellow, green or blue, where light pollution is very low.
If there is a lot of light pollution in your area, you will only be able to see the black sky, the Moon and some planets, such as Mars (and this only in some cases). On the other hand, if the area where you live does not have much artificial lighting nearby, you will be able to enjoy the starry sky and contemplate astronomical events, such as meteor showers or the approach of the green comet.
How can I see the comet, and do I have to worry about the brightness?
Next February 1 will be the day when the comet will be at its closest point to the Earth. This will occur around 1.11 pm in the US (EST).
As for the brightness of the comet, there is no need to worry. NASA has reported that the star can be observed with the naked eye without the use of other devices. When we have chosen a spot to see the comet, it is advisable to wait for half an hour for our eyes to adapt to the light.
To get the best possible view of the comet, you will first need to have binoculars or a small telescope. Keep in mind that the best time to see it will be at dusk. The comet will leave behind an unmistakable green halo, which will help you to identify it easily.
