How to photograph comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) which will pass close to the Earth this month?


Comet Neowise as it passes through 2020

© Maxime Oudoux via Wikimedia

The year 2023 is off to a good start for astronomy enthusiasts. From January, it will be possible to observe the first passage of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) for 50,000 years, which brings us back to the Paleolithic period when Neanderthals were still found in Europe. . With a bit of luck, it will even be visible to the naked eye.

Discovered in March 2022 as part of the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey program employing the Samuel-Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory (California), the comet is currently moving through our solar system and is expected to reach its closest point to our star, or perihelion, on January 12, 2023. It will then pass closest to the Earth, that is to say at its perigee, on February 1 next. At that time, it will still be more than 42 million kilometers away.

According to Nicolas Biver, astronomer at the Paris Observatory quoted by Le Figaro : “The comet is 10,000 times brighter today than when it was discovered”. We can therefore hope to see it with the naked eye if it continues to light up, even if nothing is certain due to the rather unpredictable behavior of comets. Moreover, even if it becomes observable, it will still be necessary to be able to locate it. Because in our eyes it will only appear as one star among many others. Rest assured, we will explain how to best enjoy the show.

To spot comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), people living in the Paris region will have to look up at Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the constellation of the Giraffe or even that of the Coachman depending on the date of observation. The ideal time to try to spot the ice ball is between late January (around the 27th) and mid-February. The well-known site for amateurs Stelvision has produced very useful maps illustrating the trajectory of the comet.

Advertising, your content continues below

comet sky map

The trajectory of the comet seen from Earth (one hour from Paris) when it will be most visible.

© Carine Souplet / Stelvision.com

Otherwise, you can also use our favorite smartphone sky map: SkySafari, available on Android and iOS. Thanks to the sensors of your smartphone, the application can operate in “compass” mode and give you the name of the stars towards which you point it, taking into account your location. Generally, it also integrates ephemeral events such as the passage of comets. By searching for C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the software, it will be able to tell you its location directly and guide you with arrows to find it. This is the simplest option in our opinion.

SkySafari

SkySafari

With Skysafari discover the mysteries of the sky above you, follow the comets, watch the international space station or the Hubble telescope pass by, learn about the different planets and stars, and more!

  • Downloads:
    41
  • Release date :
    07/07/2022
  • Author :
    Simulation Curriculum Corp.
  • Licence :
    commercial license
  • Categories:

    Astronomy – Science

  • Operating system :

    Android, iOS iPhone / iPad, macOS

The most interesting thing about these icy objects is to contemplate the trail they leave behind when they vaporize near the Sun, which requires a minimum of equipment and knowledge. Once you have approximately located the comet, you can observe it with a telescope or a pair of binoculars. But if you don’t have one or if you want to immortalize what you have in front of you, we invite you to draw a camera (with a good zoom if possible).

Place the device on a tripod, it is an absolutely essential accessory. If you don’t have one, we recommend the models below. Even if the Amazon tripod is not the best on the market, it will allow you to significantly gain stability at a lower cost. The second model offered is much more upscale and therefore significantly more expensive.

AmazonBasics Ultralight Tripod (WT3540)


AmazonBasics Ultralight Tripod (WT3540)

Note Digital

Editor's Rating: 2 out of 5

  • Amazon WarehouseAmazon Warehouse

    24.35

  • AmazonAmazon

    26.91

How the pricing table works

Disable your ad blocker to access all the links above.

Manfrotto Manfrotto Aluminum Tripod Kit 3 Sections + 3D Ball Head


Manfrotto Manfrotto Aluminum Tripod Kit 3 Sections + 3D Ball Head

  • Amazon WarehouseAmazon Warehouse

    212.22

  • Amazon MarketplaceAmazon Marketplace

    306.98

  • Amazon MarketplaceAmazon Marketplace

    318.95

  • AmazonAmazon

    319.00

  • Amazon MarketplaceAmazon Marketplace

    331.86

  • Amazon MarketplaceAmazon Marketplace

    357.70

How the pricing table works

Disable your ad blocker to access all the links above.

Next, take a long exposure (but not too long or your stars will look like lines due to the Earth’s rotation) with a nice foreground if possible. Be careful to achieve the focus, either on the stars, or on the Moon, or on another bright object very far from you. If you have focus peaking, take advantage of it.

Note that the comet will pass close to Polaris, the pole star, around January 30/31. As all astronomers know, Polaris is close to the Celestial Pole, the Earth’s axis of rotation. So, choosing this date for your photo session could be wise. The comet will appear to be moving more slowly, and you will be able to achieve longer exposures since you will experience less of the Earth’s rotation.

comet neowise 2020

In 2020, we photographed Neowise, another comet. Here it is captured at wide angle from the Paris region.

© Karyl AIT KACI ALI / Digital

Although it is always advisable to move away from cities to avoid light pollution, it is not an obligation. However, Neowise, which you see above, was brighter than C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be. So keep in mind that photographing comets is sometimes as unpredictable as the comets themselves. So hang in there.

Neowise zoom

Comet Neowise photographed with a Nikon D7500 (APS-C) with a 450 mm telephoto lens (eq 24×36) for 10 seconds, at ISO 800 and with an aperture of f/6.3.

© Karyl AIT KACI ALI / Digital

Advertising, your content continues below



Source link -98