For anyone looking up at the night sky later this month that sees a bright green light; don’t be alarmed it isn’t aliens. For the first time in about 50,000 years a comet known as C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be visible to Earth. Luckily for those in DFW, they will be able to get a glimpse of the rare comet sometime in mid-to-late January.
Back in March of 2022, astronomers at the Zwicky Transient Facility discovered the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Based on their research, they found that the comet was last seen passing by Earth about 50,000 years ago.
According to Dallas Morning News, comets can take anywhere from hundreds to millions of years to complete an orbit around the sun.
NASA claims the comet, which will appear as a bright green light, will be visible in the Earth’s northern hemisphere in January, and the southern hemisphere in February. “It’s literally speaking, a once in a lifetime chance,” said Manfred Cuntz, a physics professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. This is definitely an experience many won’t want to miss.
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