Laramie Is The Best Place To Sight The Rare Green Comet
Now we won't have to pretend that airplanes in the night sky are shooting stars (if you get what I mean), because -- well, not shooting stars but, a rare comet is set to brighten the night sky for the first time in 50,000 years.
Starting January 12, 2023; stargazers it's time to bring out the telescopes, and for the hopeless romantics, it's uh, time for a great date night idea - comet gazing!
We will be getting a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a rare comet with a greenish hue. Astronomers discovered Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in March last year when it was inside Jupiter's orbit. NASA scientists believe this may be the comet's first sighting in 50, 000 years!
And wait, the best part is... because of the lack of light pollution, Wyoming is the best place in the country to spot the comet even without binoculars or telescopes!
Although, if you want to see the comet's light show in 4K HD, then, having some magnification would probably be the most ideal.
Although the comet’s light show has just begun, it should be brightest on February 1 and 2 when it is closest to the Earth, but the brightness of the comet is a variable. We're not really sure how bright it'll be.
Unless our new green friend explodes, it still won’t be as visible as the 2020 Comet NEOWISE, which was the brightest comet since Hale-Bopp in 1997.
But, as long as you just get away from the lights, and find a clear view with dark skies, it should give you good viewing.
Where to look?
Max Gilbraith, who is the head of the University of Wyoming planetarium, told Cowboy State Daily that, for this weekend, the comet will become visible just after midnight in the northeastern sky, and beginning January 21, the comet will be visible all night and look between the North Star and the top of the Big Dipper, you will be facing mostly north to find it.
Gilbraith said rooftop telescopes will be provided for the public at the Physical Sciences building on the UW campus beginning at 7 PM, on February 1, so head on over and catch this rare phenomenon!
For more information on the UW S.T.A.R. telescope viewings or where to find the Physical Sciences building, click here.