{"id":41451,"date":"2023-02-09T10:54:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T10:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=115939"},"modified":"2023-02-09T11:32:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T11:32:54","slug":"catch-comet-e3-ztfs-last-waltz-a-meeting-with-mars-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/catch-comet-e3-ztfs-last-waltz-a-meeting-with-mars-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Catch Comet E3 ZTF\u2019s last waltz: a meeting with Mars this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Comet E3’s best days may be behind it, but binoculars will enable you to catch its close encounter with Mars on Friday and Saturday night. <\/p>

By Iain Todd\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 09 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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It\u2019s safe to say that the story of Comet C\/2022 E3 ZTF has proven to be better than many of us had cautiously hoped for.<\/p>\n

Comets have a funny way of promising everything, then withering out and delivering very little.<\/p>\n

Not every comet ends up being a Comet NEOWISE<\/a> or Comet Leonard<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Comet C\/2022 E3 (ZTF) with anti-tail passing by the Knife Edge Galaxy (NGC 5907), captured by Daniel Zoliro, Chouteau, Oklahoma, USA , 23 January 2023.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

And while most of us knew Comet E3 was never going to live up to the hype of being \u2018spectacular\u2019 or \u2018blazing across the sky\u2019 as some were reporting, there was still the question as to whether or not it would be bright enough to comfortably observe through binoculars and small telescopes.<\/p>\n

As astronomer and astrophotographer Stuart Atkinson reported on this very website throughout January and February in his Comet C\/2022 E3 ZTF<\/a> blog, it really did end up being a memorable comet, and certainly a great start to the year (keep up with Stuart\u2019s comet encounters via his @mars_stu<\/strong><\/a> Twitter page).<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
John Chumack captured this image of Comet C\/2022 E3 ZTF on 4 February 2023 from Dayton, Ohio, USA.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

So what now for Comet E3? For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it\u2019s safe to say its best days are behind it.<\/p>\n

A recent highlight was on the night of 5\/6 February, when the comet passed by bright star Capella<\/a> in Auriga<\/a>, making for a wonderful conjunction that was observed and photographed by keen comet chasers.<\/p>\n

Have a look at this wonderful gif posted by @adrianjannetta<\/a> on Twitter:<\/p>\n

#Comet<\/a> 2022 E3 ZTF sailing past the bright star Capella on 05-Feb-2023 during full moon. High cloud and some mount tracking errors show up in this animation covering 70 minutes of motion. RedCat 51 \/ ZWO ASI533MC Pro camera #Northumberland<\/a> #Astronomy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1VOD55j2Kd<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Dr Adrian Jannetta ?????? (@AdrianJannetta) February 6, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>