# Anybody here paying attention to Comet ZTF? (Zwicky Transient Facility) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989 "2023-01-10T19:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/1 "2023-01-10T19:47:14Z")
Quoted from wiki ([C/2022 E3 (ZTF) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2022_E3_(ZTF))) — “C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a long period comet that was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 2 March 2022. The comet will reach its perihelion on January 12, 2023, at a distance of 1.11 AU (166 million km) and the closest approach to Earth will be on February 1, 2023, at a distance of 0.28 AU (42 million km). The comet is expected to get brighter than magnitude 6 and thus become visible with the naked eye.” Yo, dudes, like, wow man… radical! / Jeff Spicoli voice ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/2 "2023-01-11T00:06:33Z")
I’m hoping to be able to see it but DC is bright and often overcast this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/3 "2023-01-11T02:50:12Z")
I recall a comet in to 1970s that was supposed to be “brighter than a full moon” and we couldn’t see the damn thing with the naked eye. My Grandfather could have seen Halley’s comet twice, but it was overcast on the second pass. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/4 "2023-01-11T02:57:41Z")
Comets are notoriously fickle as to brightness. Much depends on how much in the way of volatiles it still has to expend. Sometimes we think a comet will be spectacular because it’s going to come close to Earth and therefore be very visible, but it turns out to be a dud with little or no tail. Other times what looks to be an unremarkable comet brightens up drmatically when it gets close because it still has a lot of volatiles to create a large, bright tail. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/5 "2023-01-11T04:12:39Z")
That would be [Kohoutek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Kohoutek). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/6 "2023-01-11T05:58:33Z")
In my near 60 years I’ve only seen one comet. Hale-Bopp in 1997; the Heavens Gate comet. I hope they made it. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/7 "2023-01-11T15:58:44Z")
Most are disappointments. The only one that lived up to (and exceeded) predictions was Hyakutake in March 1996. It was impressive, with the head as big as a full moon and a long bright tail. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/8 "2023-01-11T16:02:36Z")
Yes, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/9 "2023-01-11T16:04:55Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > That would be [Kohoutek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Kohoutek). I was eight years old when Kohoutek approached; I, too, remember the hype around it, and that it wound up being not impressive at all (though I don’t remember getting a chance to see it). I was 21 when Halley’s Comet made its most recent pass through the Solar System in 1986; due to a bunch of factors, it was very difficult to see with the naked eye, particularly if you were living in the Northern Hemisphere, and in a city (both of which I was), so I never actually saw it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/10 "2023-01-11T16:27:07Z")
I was a teenager living in Silver Spring, MD. when Kohoutek swung by. I bundled up and went out at 4AM on the night the comet was supposed to be the most visible. I had my dad’s binoculars, and with them, I was able to see…nothing. Silver Spring is not what one would call a “dark sky” area… I’ve been fortunate to have lived in Arizona since 1983, and since then I’ve seen: Halley’s Hale-Bopp [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/CP799pa.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/CP799pa) Hayakutake [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/4IQjNBa.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/4IQjNBa) PanStaars [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8382/8552982185_6e90e2ac89_b.jpg "DSC\_3542") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/8552982185/in/dateposted-public/) Neowise [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/wmFQxQQ.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/wmFQxQQ) I hope to get a photo of C/2022 E3 (ZTF), but it might not be easy to do… ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/11 "2023-01-11T16:55:13Z")
The irony is that Comet West came along 3 years after Kohoutek, blazing in the sky-and was almost completely ignored by the media, who were burned by the 1st comet’s fizzle. I was a big astronomy buff back then (still am), but only found out about it years later. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/12 "2023-01-13T13:56:23Z")
And ironically, just a year or two after came Comet West, which was largely ignored because of the poor showing of Kohoutek. But Comet West delivered a great show for those who got up early in the morning during its appearance. It was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/13 "2023-01-13T15:43:03Z")
The comet is at perihelion today. But, it looks like really poor viewing conditions - there is a bright Moon close by. However, tomorrow looks more promising - it should be high in the sky by late evening, and no Moon. I used Stellarium to play with viewing possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/14 "2023-01-14T11:40:59Z")
I’m always up real early, and have a very dark sky but terrain and tall trees look like it’s going to block it. Rats ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/15 "2023-01-14T17:12:42Z")
I’ve wanted to see it but it’s been overcast the past few days, and getting up pre-dawn isn’t in the cards. I think my time has come and gone. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/16 "2023-01-14T17:39:27Z")
No, there will be an even better chance of seeing it for the next few weeks. It’s closest approach to Earth is on 2/1, and it should brighten a bit. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/17 "2023-01-16T02:48:43Z")
I’ve been paying attention to the news about it, but there’s been no chance to see it, yet. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/18 "2023-01-16T08:10:37Z")
I’m 58 and have yet to see a comet. Now I see that this one won’t be visible from the southern hemisphere, and … _sigh_. ---
**Author:** ![ThisOneGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@ThisOneGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisOneGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/19 "2023-01-22T15:27:01Z")
Had what seemed like the first clear night in over a month. At 20:00 comet was below the horizon, or at least below the mountains. Woke up around 3:45 and went out to take a look. Not naked eye visible at least with the city lights reflecting off all the snow, but was easy to find in binoculars. Couldn’t see the tail, butthe coma was clear, and could see the shape of it pointing away from the sun. Was cold (17F per heat pump thermostat) and I needed the sleep so didn’t get out the telescope or try to take a picture. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989/20 "2023-01-22T15:32:39Z")
I’ve got to remember to look for it in the next week or so… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-paying-attention-to-comet-ztf-zwicky-transient-facility/977989.md?page=2)