REDDITCH Astronomical Society are hoping for clear skies this week in the expectation of catching a final glimpse of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as it heads back to the outer reaches of the solar system.
February’s New Moon, if the skies are clear, could provide the last opportunity for amateur astronomers to observe this traveller from the Oort cloud, a distant collection of icy objects predicted to lie out at the most distant edge of our solar system.
With its hugely elliptical orbit, comet C/2022 will not return to our neighbourhood for another 50,000 years so the society is hoping tomorrow night (Saturday) will leave it with a final sighting.
Back in January, local astronomer Martin Brennan managed to take this photograph of the comet from his back garden.
If Saturday is free of cloud, society members will gather again at Morton Stanley Cafe for a final attempt to observe and photograph the comet.
Meeting at 4.30pm to prepare equipment before the sun sets, everyone is welcome to attend, with or without their own equipment, to join in with some observing.
Visit redditchastro.org.uk for more information.
