Comet ZTF arrives

José J. Chambó from Mayhill, New Mexico

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and its 3°-long tail stand out in this image from Dec. 24, 2022. The comet reached perihelion on Jan. 12 and will make its closest approach to Earth on Feb. 1, and may reach naked-eye visibility. This LRGB image was taken with a total of 31 minutes of exposure.