I SAW THE GREEN COMET'
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John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
www.nyskies.org
nyskies@nyskies.org
2023 February 8
Introduction
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Comet 2022-E3 was found in early March 2022 as a 18th magnitude
object. It was named for the project that discovered it, Zwicky
Transient Facility or ZTF. When a projected lightcure was developed
for it, the comet potentially would be a bare-eye sight in early
2023.
In spite of apparently erratic brightness reports in summer-fall
2022 the comet held tightly to is projected lightcurve and was well on
its way to be an target in dark sky in high altitude in Jan-Feb 2023.
It would peak at magn 4-1/2 around Feb 1.
Some authors noted a 'sudden' increase' in brightness in late fall
2022, as if ZTF had an outburst or flare-up. It didn't. It moved into
a steeply rising part of its lightcurve, staying on course along it.
ZTF would, after peaking, enter the steeply falling arm to fade
quickly out of interest.
Media attention
-------------
Soonet the projected lightcurve was issued news media -- and some
astronomy media -- hyped the comet to hell. They gushed about how
magnificient a sight it'll be for New Years, so bright in high dark
sky. Because ZTF behaved so well, according to expectations, news
about it came in spurts, each with more excitement.
For astronomers, specially home astronomers, comet ZTF would be a
pleasing easy target. Once it climbed into binocular reach they
followed it as comfortably as a globular cluster.
No one of us seriously believed the comet would be a public
spectacle, with hordes of people oo-ing and ah-ing at it like they did
for Halley, Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp. They could show the comet at a
starviewing session but hardly thought any visitor could find it on
their own.
By December 2022 with ZTF rapidly brightening, along its
lightcurve, news media alerted the public to the approaching comet.
They gave elaborate instructions where and when to look for it, alL
orders too crude and even wrong.
The green comet
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One example of a wrong story WAs the 'green comet'. This story
broke in January 2023, possibly relating to the football playoff
between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles were team
colors are green and white. Giants colors are blue and white, so
whom did the celestial forces favor?
Eagles did win, crushing Giants to march into the Super Bowl.
News pictures showed a dazzling humongous comet spilling out a
ragged tail. Yes, it was in living color: green. A news viewer could
think it spans half of the sky.
Not only was the description of ZTF all wrong, so were the
directions for viewing it. These were reckless against timezone and
latitude. No hopeful viewer ever saw this 'green comet' or the real
comet ZTF for himself.
WObserving geometry
-----------------
ZTF had an unusual geometry for observing, making it almost an
ideal target for those with stargazing experience. Its perihelion was
outside of Earth's orbit and it rounded that point while in 0far
northern sky in full night. The observer would not squint into
twilight for a diffuse target skimming the horizon. Tat is how most
comets, even 'bright' ones, are observed.
During November 2022 comet ZTF was circling around in eastern
Cornoa Borealis. In December it unwinded from Corona and began a long
straight dash across Bootes, Ursa Major, Camelopardalis, Auriga.
The comet's tail would be angularly short because it pointed away
from Earth. The main target would be the head, which was ccondensed for
further improve observability.
Weather in NYSkies
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After New Years I planned to see 2022-E3 from my Brooklyn home. By
good luck the comet would pass into view of a north-facing window,
letting me watch from indoors in case of winter cold.
The weather did not cooperate. Night on the back of night clouds
roved the sky. Sometimes they covered it completely or in large
fields. Once in a while rain fell. For almost all of January, with the
lousy sky and diversion for mundane activity, I got no view of ZTFF.
Only a few other astronomers in the NYSkies region got a view, due
to similarly cloudy skies.
Success!
------
My first break came in 2023 January 31 around 3h EST. The sky was
hazy.
The air was calm and actually mild, as was the prevailing situation
during January.
Weakly the Big Dipper shined thru. The comet was then between Big
and Little Dippers.
I didn't need a sweater or other uter wear when I viewed thru the
opened window. The dozen or so stars visible by eye were properly
aligned for the comet for clear sightline.
From the many finder charts in circulation I aimed binoculars
toward the comet's location. The faintest star in binocs was only 6th
magn. I walked carefully along the comet's path, skipping back to the
Big Dipper for alignment stars.
Yep, there it was. Comet 2022-E3 was there. I felt that only
because it had a condensed head it busted thru the haze.
To me it was 5th magnitude. The head was quite round, with soft
edge. No hint, of a tail or fringing/fraying on the tail side of the
head. They was probably blocked by the haze, It looked all for the
world like a brighter globular cluster.
I watched it for about 20 minutes until filled by goal and closed
observing for the night.
Next view
------
I was away from the sky on night of February 1st. My next view was
February 2nd at about 21h EST. The air was, for the first time in
weeks, clear, transparency of 3-1/2 to 4. The air was calm but chilly.
I was in interior dress, no outer wear. I had to retreat from the
window after bout of chill.
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111`````````````````````°
The Big Dipper stood out clearly. A couple stars were in the Little
Dipper, Cauda Draconis, western Ursa Major. The comet was now in
Camelopardalis, which offered no useful lineup stars. By walking
farther along the comet's path with binoculars I picked up ZTF easily.
It was far more lucid than previously, with solid round head and soft
edges. Where the tail should be I only saw a wide fringing.
I admired the comet for about 20 minutes, between warmup retreats,
until I reached my satisfaction.
Final view
--------
My final look at ZTF was on February 3, about 20h EST. comet was
speeding up, moving it into high sky at earlier hours.
The air was, uh, frigid and windy. Calm temperature was around -
10C with a wind chill of -25C. These were derived from radio weather
news, not my own measurements., which could not be all that different.
In face of this air I donned a wool bathrobe in reverse, like a
hospital gown. This put a solid barrier across my chest and throat.
The sky was clear and dark, transparency 4-1/2. Many dimmer stars
peppered the area west of Ursa Major and in Cameopardalis. 2022-E3
was deep in Camelopardalis with no useful stars leading me to it. I
searched along iZTF's path toeard Auriga, itsslef beyond sight over my
house.
The comet popped into view soonest I passed over its place along
its path. In binoculars It looked quite about the same as last night,
tho brighter against the darker background. The fringing to me was
thicker, more like a swwpwr esge than else where around the head..
There was no positive structure of a tail.
IZTF was to me 5th magnitude, surely bright emnough to see by bare
eye by a well-sighted observe. I plain could not see it by eye, not
even a hint like an other simmest star,, altho I relaxed and shielded
by eyes from the wind. I could see only a star here and there around
the comet's location.
The bitter cold air was harsher on me this night because I had to
lean out of the window. I caught the full force of wind, that
continually pushed me beck isides to warm up. My viewing time of the
comet was more like ten minutes.
Conclusion
--------
After February 3rd I had my fill of comet 2022-E3. I made no
further observations. The sky turned cloudy on the 4th and remained so
thru the 7th. The comet is now on a dharp decline in brightness, still
dhaering to its lightcuve. If the sky be cleaar on the 8t, it may
alreaddy be 6-1/2 magn. Laater break in cloudy weather will present an
even fainter comet.
One thing for sure, ZTF was not at all green in color. It was
gray=scale.
As an astronomer's target it n clear skies it was easy to locate
once it reached binocular brightness. An observer with good finder
charts or familiarity with constellations could spot it by eye aaround
the comet's maximum brightness.
For the public comet ZTF was never a feasible sight. It was only
beight enough at best to discern in a dark sky and then only with in-
person assistance by an astronomer. The lay person could have
appreciated the comet at a starviewing meet staged by local
astronomers.