Green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be closest to Earth on Feb. 1. Here's how to see it. - Space.com

Excitingly, the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), which last passed through the inner solar system around 50,000 years ago, will be at its brightest during this time and may even be visible to the naked eye under the right conditions.

(Image credit: Celestron)According to In-the-Sky,(opens in new tab) from New York City C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is circumpolar, meaning it is permanently above the horizon, and should therefore be visible for most of the night.

It will be visible in the Camelopardalis constellation while at perigee, a large but faint area of sky devoid of bright stars and located close to the north celestial pole.

An illustration of the night sky on Wednesday (Feb. 1) showing the location of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as viewed from New York City, facing north at 6:45 p.m. EST (2345 GMT).

An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 10 facing north from New York City at 6:45 p.m. EST (2345 GMT), showing comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) appearing in close proximity to Mars.

This is a behavior displayed by comets as they approach the sun and are heated by radiation from our star, with the material at their surface transforming from solid ice to gas in a process called sublimation.