If you haven’t yet braved the cold winter nights to see the green comet currently in the night sky, this week might be your best chance.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be positioned close to Mars in the Taurus constellation, making it easier to locate as it dims as it speeds away from Earth. The comet will appear beside the Red Planet from Feb. 9 through Feb. 14, after which it will begin approaching the Orion and Eridanus constellations. For viewers in the continental United States, Mars is positioned high in the night sky roughly an hour after sunset this month, making the comet primed for early evening viewing.
If skies aren’t clear in your area or you aren’t able to make it outside to see comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as it nears Mars, you still have a great opportunity to view this celestial spectacle. The Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a free telescope livestream of the comet’s Red Planet approach on the project’s website (opens in new tab) and YouTube channel (opens in new tab). The livestream will begin on Saturday (Feb. 11) at 2:00 p.m. EST (1900 GMT).
Related: Green comet flaunts its tail in dazzling deep space photo
Read more: How to view and photograph comets
For skywatchers who want to get a good look at the comet in person, Mars offers a great reference point for locating this “messenger from the outermost reaches of our solar system.” Throughout February, the Red Planet is between magnitude -0.2 and +0.4, making it not too difficult to spot in most areas without significant light pollution.
Aside from Mars, Venus and Jupiter are positioned well in the early evening sky for viewing as well. Be sure to see our guide on the brightest planets in February’s night sky and how to see them to soak up our solar system neighbors throughout the month.
Mars is located high overhead around 7:00 p.m. local time throughout the month near the Auriga and Taurus constellations. If you aren’t familiar with how the planet appears in the sky, there are a large number of popular stargazing apps available for mobile devices that can help you locate the comet, Mars and nearby constellations.
Read more: Best stargazing apps: AR apps and virtual star maps to help you navigate the night sky
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