C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a long-period comet originating in the Oort Cloud, discovered in March 2022 by the Zwicky Transient Facility survey. It follows a highly elliptical orbit with an estimated period of about 50,000 years. The comet reached perihelion in January 2023 and made its closest approach to Earth in early February of the same year. Its distinctive greenish colour is caused by the presence of diatomic carbon, and it developed both dust and ion tails visible through binoculars or telescopes. At 23:00 on 29 January 2023, the comet was crossing the constellation Camelopardalis, close to the north celestial pole and the constellation Ursa Minor, moving rapidly towards its closest approach to Earth.
General information
- Constellation
- Camelopardalis
- Category
- Clusters and stars
- Date
- 29 January 2023
Capture
- Total time
- 1h 02min
- Subframes
- 60s (CLS: 30x bin1; R: 12x, G: 10x, B: 10x bin2)
- Gain / Offset
- 125 / 30
- Calibration
- 50 library dark frames and 50 bias frames, sense flat frames
Equipment
- Telescope
- TS102 f/5.6
- Camera
- ASI294MM at -10ºC
- Filters
- CLS, R, G and B Astronomik, 36 mm
- Mount
- HEQ-5 Pro belt drive
- Guiding
- PHD2, Guide scope 60mm f/4 + ASI224MC + PegasusAstro UCH + PPBMicro
- Focuser
- ZWO EAF
- Filter wheel
- ZWO EFW 7pos
Processing and environment
- Processing
- Stacked and post-processed with PixInsight 1.8.9-3
- Acquisition
- NINA
- Location
- l'Ampolla, Tarragona
- Sky
- Bortle 4