Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2023 January 9
       [2]New Comet ZTF is pictured sporting three tails in front of a
      background of stars. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                             Tails of Comet ZTF
            Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Jose Francisco Hernández

   Explanation: Comet ZTF may become visible to the unaided eye.
   Discovered early last year, [4]this massive snowball has been
   brightening as it approaches the Sun and the Earth. [5]C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
   will be closest to the Sun later this week, at which time it [6]may
   become visible even without binoculars to northern observers with a
   clear and dark sky. As they near the Sun, comet brightnesses are
   [7]notoriously hard to predict, though. In the featured image taken
   last week in front of a [8]picturesque star field, three blue [9]ion
   tails extend to the upper right, likely the result of a variable
   [10]solar wind on [11]ions ejected by the icy [12]comet nucleus.
   [13]The comet's white [14]dust tail is visible to the upper left and
   much shorter. The [15]green glow is the comet's coma, caused by glowing
   carbon gas. [16]Comet ZTF is expected to pass nearest the Earth in
   early February, after which it should dim dramatically.

    Discovery + Outreach: [17]Graduate student research position open for
                                    APOD
                    Tomorrow's picture: interstellar cone
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    Authors & editors: [29]Robert Nemiroff ([30]MTU) & [31]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([32]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [33]Specific rights apply.
              [34]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [35]ASD at [36]NASA / [37]GSFC,
                         [38]NASA Science Activation
                           & [39]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2301/CometZtf_Hernandez_1395.jpg
   3. https://altamiraobs.org.es/
   4. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/
   5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2022_E3_(ZTF)
   6. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/new-comet-might-get-bright-enough-for-binoculars/
   7. https://i.redd.it/q065n6zy2r401.jpg
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191013.html
   9. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg
  10. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/2288/the-solar-wind-across-our-solar-system/
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion
  12. https://www.cometcampaign.org/files/images/comets_spacecraft.jpg
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221224.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200712.html
  15. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/science/why-comets-are-green.html
  16. https://theskylive.com/c2022e3-info
  17. http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=42847
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230108.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  22. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  27. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=230109
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230110.html
  29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  32. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  35. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  38. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  39. http://www.mtu.edu/