Regional skies primed for good view of comet

JUST above the horizon to the north for the next two weeks, Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) will be best seen as sunset fades in the evening; this weekend between February 10 and 12 the comet can be seen (weather permitting) moving from the below-right to the above-right of Mars in the sky. If unfamiliar with the night sky, many mobile phone apps exist to help find the reference points in the map above. Note - image above is inverted, with black dots representing stars. Photo: SUPPLIED.

By Mark Rabich

February 09, 2023 | 12:00 PM

IF you have a pair of binoculars or a decent telescope, the (mostly) light-pollution-free skies in the Southern Grampians could offer some great vantage points of a comet making its way through the solar system (relatively) near Earth.

Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) was discovered in March 2022 and with the full moon waning, can potentially now be seen in the region after sunset fades anywhere a northerly view to the horizon is unimpeded.