STAR gazers should keep their eyes peeled over the next week, as a once-in-a-lifetime comet graces the skies.
It’s known as C/2022 E3, and it is not just any comet – it glows a luminous green.
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The comet, which was discovered by researchers in March last year, is heading northbound towards the Corona Borealis constellation.
It only orbits the sun once every 50,000 or so, according to scientists.
But it is about to make it’s closest pass by Earth.
According to projections by scientists, it will then tilt towards Earth on February 2, where it will be closest to the planet on its trip around our galaxy.
The comet will come within around 45million kilometres of Earth.
That is the equivalent of the distance between Earth and the moon – about 120 times over.
The last time this comet passed Earth was when the planet was in the Stone Age.
It will be the first time modern humans have been able to gaze upon the glowing green orb.
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Star gazers should be able to see the comet with the naked eye on a clear night.
But using binoculars, or better yet a telescope, will help.
The comet is currently between the Little Dipper and Big Dipper constellations.
Scientists expect the comet to pull away from Earth and zoom back into deep space after making its closest swoop towards our planet at the beginning of next month.
However, star gazers should be reminded that the brightness of all comets is unpredictable.
While scientists can warn folks when a dazzling display should appear, there is little telling how visible it will be on the night.
A cloudy sky can quickly scupper sight-seeing plans.
The James Webb Space Telescope will be keeping an eye on the green comet, but it won’t be taking any pictures.
The $10billion telescope will instead look at what exactly the comet is made up of.
Figuring out the comet’s exact material composition can help scientists uncover more about how our solar system came to exist.
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