As we reach the end of the year 2022, two astronomical events are put in one single image to share our passion about astronomy.
This telescopic image of the Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) was captured on the early morning of the 31st of December 2022, at 05:41 UTC, from my backyard observatory in Prades (Tarragona, Spain). I was pretty surprised at how long its tail was and how big its coma was. To understand it better I added a layer with the full Moon that I photographed during the last total lunar eclipse on May 16th, visible from my location in Europe. The comet’s coma and dust tail have almost the same angular size as the Moon. The comet’s tail is much longer, reaching several degrees in angular size.
Recently discovered, the Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) is now easily visible with the use of a small telescope with a visual estimated magnitude of 8.6. It can be located in the Corona Borealis constellation.
The comet’s perihelion will be reached on January the 12th, and the perigee, its closest approach to Earth, on February the 1st.
The Comet could be visible to the naked eye by the end of January according to several estimations.
The full image covers an area of 3º09′ x 2º10′ at a resolution of 2.59″/pixel.
Thanks for your time on this website.
This image has been published on the french newspaper Le Figaro on Jan.5th 2023:
Image Details
RGB: (10, 10, 10) x 30″ (15′)
L: 10×300″ (50′)
Calibrated with darks, flats, dark-flats.
Total exposure: 1h05′
Average Moon phase at 52% (not visible)
Image resolution: 2.59”/pixel
FOV (full image): 3º09′ x 2º10′
Equipment
FRA300 + ASI2600MM + LRGB ZWO filters + ZWO EFW 7 pos + ZWO EAF
ZWO AM5 mount
ASI AIR Plus
Guiding with ASI120MM and ZWO Mini Guide Scope
Software
ASI Air software, APP, PIX, LR, TPZ, PS.
Aleix Roig, 31st of December 2022
Prades (Tarragona, Catalonia – Spain).