In early 2023, a comet will approach Earth that will likely be bright enough to be visible to the naked eye.. Now comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is moving through the inner solar system and will approach the minimum distance to the Sun on January 12, Space reports.. com.

The maximum approach to our planet will take place on February 1-2. If the comet continues to gain brightness at the same level as now, it can be seen with the naked eye.. However, it is rather difficult to predict this for comets.. But even if the object dims, it can be seen through binoculars or a telescope..

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Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to observe the comet before dawn, it will move from the northwest. In the southern hemisphere, the object can be observed in February.

The most optimal time for observing the comet is January 21, when the young Moon will not block the object with its light.. During the approach to the Earth C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be in the constellation Giraffe.

During the current approach, it will come within 160 million kilometers from the Sun on January 12 and 42 million kilometers from our planet on February 2..

According to NASA, the comet's rotation period is 50 thousand years, that is, the last time it approached the minimum distance to the Earth during the Upper Paleolithic period.. This means that the comet could have been observed by Neanderthals or early Homo sapiens who lived during the last ice age.. But of course they couldn't know what it was.

Recall that in July one of the most distant active comets, K2, approached the Earth.. However, it was impossible to see it with the naked eye, since it was further from our planet than Mars..