The last metre Comet C/2022 E3 ( ZTF ) was visible in our skies Neanderthals still roamed the Earth,50,000 years ago , so if you do n’t desire to have to wait another 50 millennium , the time to see it is now . Well , perchance . But more on that later on .

The comet is now just under the average limit for visibilitywith the naked center , but a just pair of binoculars should leave you to see it with no problem . fortuitously , over the next few nights , you ’ll have a pretty big , red signpost to determine it as it will be next to Mars in the sky . The Red Planet is visible to the nude middle in a westerly direction after sunset , so apply it as a way to look for the green comet . For a more accurate position , you could crack outThe Sky Liveinteractive page .

If you prefer a deep look at the comet , maybe contribute out a telescope is a good idea . Many astrophotographers have snapped the singular space objective , as have citizen scientist usingUnistellar telescopeswho have been hoard observations to best define the comet ’s scope . And that might be important for whether our descendants will see the comet in the time to come .

![The green hue of the come is clearly visible in this telescope image of it](https://assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/67492/iImg/65656/didier Cowen E3.jpg)

Image of the comet taken by citizen scientist Didier Cowen. Image Credit: Didier Cowen courtesy of Unistellar

It ’s not certain that the comet will come back from the intimate Solar System in 50,000 years . Current understanding of the comet tells astronomers that it is ina weakly hyperbolic orbit . That means that it should be coming back to us but a modest deflexion from its current itinerary , maybe due to the gravity of the giant satellite , could mail it on a trajectory that would leave behind it away from the Solar System perpetually .

The comet is visible from both cerebral hemisphere but if the weather condition is not on your side or you do not have the right equipment , interest not . Our friends at theVirtual Telescope Projectwill do a resilient stream observance of the comet and Mars tomorrow starting at2 pm ET .

A series of still observations of the comet put together show the comet moving across the sky

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF seen moving over the course of 18 minutes on 7 Feb. 2023. IMage Credit: Gianluca Masi/Virtual Telescope Project