Rare green comet – how to view it and spiritual significance |
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As a rare green comet, which hasn’t passed Earth since the Bronze Age, passes our planet tonight, it’s amazing to think that the last time it passed us was a while ago. thousands of years old.
Whether you’re a die-hard stargazer or just curious about the night sky, there’s no denying that the prospect of a rare comet circling our planet is always exciting. Considering it’s set overhead, just days before the cosmic full moon drama of February 2023 – it’s also easy to wonder if there’s any spiritual significance behind this rare green comet.
The real name of the green comet is Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and according to expert astronomers, the last eyes to behold it were Neanderthals. That’s if they weren’t too busy fending off woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
Earth Sky (opens in a new tab) reports that the comet’s closest approach is on February 1-2 and that “it will be in the direction of the northern circumpolar constellation Camelopardalis the Giraffe.” Its closest point is 27 million kilometers away, more than 100 times the distance to the Moon.
Green Comet Astrology
(Image credit: Gizem Gecim/Getty Images)
We reached out to expert astrologer Inbaal Honigman (opens in a new tab) to find out about the significance of the Green Comet in the world of astrology.
“Comets are a fascinating phenomenon and were once considered unpredictable and sudden omens,” she told woman&home. “They were associated with war or crop failure, and even the deification of Caesar. Such a dramatic celestial brilliance could only bring dramatic news, once in a generation.”
In astrology, comets bring messages of change and although they are no longer unpredictable, Inbaal points out that they are still sudden by their very nature.
“This green comet may have a connection to Aquarius, since we are in Aquarius season, a sign related to activism and environmental causes,” she explains. “The color green is considered to signify both nature and new ideas. We could be looking at a new climate initiative or a new announcement of environmental conflicts – the two often come hand in hand.”
Why is it called a green comet?
(Image credit: John Pane/Getty Images)
The green color is due to the effect of sunlight on the molecules of the comet – cyanogen and diatomic carbon. The Independent (opens in a new tab) reports that diatomic carbon is a “green gaseous chemical with the chemical formula C=C that occurs in the carbon vapor of comets.” In other words, the color is not really unique.
When sunlight breaks these molecules down, they turn into single carbon atoms, before migrating to the comet’s tail. This is why the green tint is only present around the comet’s nucleus and the tail may well appear white.
Despite its slightly misleading name, you may not be able to see the verdant shadow of this comet – unless you use a telescope. Speaking to BBC News (opens in a new tab), Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, said: “You may have seen these reports saying we’re going to get this illuminating bright green object heaven,” adding, “unfortunately, that won’t be the case.”
How to see the green comet
(Image credit: Cobalt88/Getty Images)
In order to locate it, astronomers suggest using a stargazing app for ease, but if you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge, there are a few tricks to locating it.
First, you’ll need to find the North Star – which is always located in the same spot in the sky, and according to BBC News you can find it by looking “directly north and locating a star hanging distinctly by it- same”.
The best time to see the Green Comet will be in the early hours of Thursday morning February 2, when the Moon has set, where it should appear to the right of the North Star.