A bright green comet is approaching Earth for the first time in 50,000 years, putting on a show for both hemispheres.
NASA officials said the icy visitor was first spotted in March 2022 while orbiting Jupiter.
Those in the Northern Hemisphere comet can be seen as a small green glow with binoculars from Thursday.
Scientists note that the celestial body will be at its closest point to Earth on February 2.
“Comets were notorious for being unpredictable,” NASA said in a statement on the visit. “But if it continues to shine in the same way, it will be easy to see.”
According to NASA, under the right conditions, it can even be noticed with the naked eye.
The sky name, documented as C/2022 E3 (ZTF), will be 42 million kilometers from Earth on February 2.
Dan Bartlett, a retired high school science teacher and astrophotographer, views the comet from his cabin near Yosemite National Park in California.
“With binoculars or not, you’re going to see something,” Bartlett told the BBC. Get your friends together and make an observation that you will talk about for a lifetime.”
The Planetary Society informs non-telescope observers in the Northern Hemisphere that the comet will appear as “a pale greenish speck in the sky.”
Those with a telescope will also be able to see the comet’s tail.
The comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere throughout January. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be visible in February.
According to the Planetary Society, the comet completes its orbit around the sun in 50,000 years, making it a “once-in-a-lifetime observation”.
