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Astronomy Picture of the Day - A Comet and Two Dippers
APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 7 Feb, 2023 | Image Credit & Copyright: Petr Horalek / Institute of Physics in Opava

Posted on 02/07/2023 2:48:56 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: Can you still see the comet? Yes. Even as C/2022 E3 (ZTF) fades, there is still time to see it if you know where and when to look. Geometrically, Comet ZTF has passed its closest to both the Sun and the Earth and is now headed back to the outer Solar System. Its orbit around the Sun has it gliding across the northern sky all month, after passing near Polaris and both the Big and Little Dippers last month. Pictured, Comet ZTF was photographed between the two dippers in late January while sporting an ion tail that extended over 10 degrees. Now below naked-eye visibility, Comet ZTF can be found with binoculars or a small telescope and a good sky map. A good time to see the comet over the next week is after the Sun sets -- but before the Moon rises. The comet will move nearly in front of Mars in a few days


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: comet; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 02/07/2023 2:48:56 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 02/07/2023 2:49:10 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 02/07/2023 2:49:53 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

I have equipment that could easily spot this but I live in Oregon. Nuff said.


4 posted on 02/07/2023 3:18:14 PM PST by Telepathic Intruder
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To: MtnClimber

That photo is cool looking! I didn’t realize that the camera picked up so many stars in the background that we can’t see with naked eyes.


5 posted on 02/07/2023 3:39:35 PM PST by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

Clouds every night so far for me.
Every chance I had to go look.


6 posted on 02/07/2023 5:56:08 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: Darksheare

“Clouds every night so far for me.
Every chance I had to go look.”


Same here unfortunately...


7 posted on 02/08/2023 5:43:24 AM PST by BBB333 (The Power Of Trump Compels You!)
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