Have you already seen it in the starry sky? – SWR3

If you look closely, you can actually see it with the naked eye. We tell you where and when you can see it best.

The comet, called C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is on its way toward Earth. It consists of dust and water and only passes through the Earth every 50,000 years.

A 30-minute shot of #comet C/2022 E3 ZTF passing through the northern sky. It’s very opaque, which can be seen here with 4-second exposures. https://t.co/nMRvwakKmb

It is not easy to see at the moment. But that will change at the end of the week, when the comet will be closest to Earth at a distance of about 42 million km.

Where does green come from?

According to the German Aerospace Center, the green color is caused by an interaction between gas and heat from the sun.

Where and when is the “green comet” best seen?

To see the comet, you must face north, toward the North Star. You wander between the “Big Dipper” and “Little Dipper” towers. Now it is on the horizon, but over time it is moving higher and higher. According to Uwe Dillschneider of the Peterberg Observatory, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is always best seen in the evening around 10 p.m. – of course only under a clear, starry sky.