Bengaluru misses out on viewing rare ‘Green Comet’ due to cloudy weather

BENGALURU: A green-hued comet was expected to be visible in the country for the first time in about 50,000 years, but it was not visible in the state due to cloudy conditions and light pollution in the city.

Green comet was named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and it was discovered on March 2, 2022

According to NASA, the green comet was named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and it was discovered on March 2, 2022, by astronomers using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility. It came closest to Earth between February 1 and February 2. The comet could be seen with the naked eye or with binoculars and telescopes between 7 pm on Wednesday and 5 am on Thursday, but the colour would not have been visible

“The green comet was not visible in the city due to clouds and light pollution. We always expect cloud and light pollution to disrupt the atmosphere. We had hoped to see it through the telescope, but could not. The composition of the comet is unique”, said Dr Anand, Senior Scientific Officer, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium.

Dr Anand, Senior Scientific Officer, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium

“Comets wander toward the inner solar system when various gravitational forces dislodge them from the Oort cloud, becoming more visible as they venture closer to the heat given off by the Sun .The comet is green because of the clash between sunlight and carbon-based molecules in the comet’s coma. The green colour cannot be seen with the naked eye; it can only be seen in photographs. People who watched it from remote locations would have had a nice view”, he added.