Osmania Universitys Astronomy Department students to photograph comet tonight

Hyderabad: Osmania University’s (OU) Astronomy Department will carry out imaging of the greenish C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet between 7 pm and 9 pm on Thursday by viewing it from an observatory outside the city.

The long-period comet was discovered in March 2022 and after passing close to the earth, will either leave the solar system or will return but only after millions of years.

According to astronomy department head of department Dr D Shanti Priya, the imaging will be carried out by students at the Japal Rangapur observatory in Ranga Reddy district’s Manchal mandal, 15 km from Ibrahimpatnam. The comet will not be visible to the naked eye.

Until the imaging is done, it cannot be said if the comet’s ‘tail’ will be visible because it is not known how it has changed its course after passing close to the sun, Dr Shanti Priya said. The department also carried out imaging a few days ago during the comet’s approach, when a small tail was visible.

The comet is nicknamed the Neanderthal Comet as the last time it went around the sun was the time when Neanderthal, a now extinct subspecies of humans, existed on earth. The comet will reach its closest position to the earth on February 2. Astronomers and stargazing enthusiasts are hoping that the comet will be visible through binoculars or a telescope.