A Comet in January

 

January 2023---Day after day of gray, and variations of gray---

January can be a bleak month. Holidays are over, and bills are due. And yes, the plague is still with us. Republicans control the House.  

But Chicago has had high temperatures in the 40's--well above average for January.  In spite of the Chiberian Express at the end of December, winter  so far has not been bad.  I've even been doing some yard work.

And there is much to look forward to--a little more daylight every day now, after the winter solstice.

And the Lunar New Year  is coming on January 22--it will be the year of the rabbit. In Chinese astrology, the rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity.  Rabbit years can be kinder and gentler than tiger years, like the one just ending. Here's hope there may be more kindness and healing this year.

And there is a comet in the predawn sky--Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)---visible now, and brightening. This comet was last seen in our inner solar system 50,000 years ago!  

Here is an article from Astronomy Magazine with information on how and where to see the comet.

And, here is an article from Sky and Telescope with more information.

You will have to be up early to see the comet, but wouldn't it be worth it just to catch a glimpse of this rare green comet in the predawn sky?   The last time it was in this neighborhood, there was no human civilization. It was here before Stonehenge, or the Pyramids, before Homer,  Galileo, and Shakespeare, before Chinese scholars painted comets on silk.

And  this is not a just a one night phenomenon, like a lunar eclipse. If the sky is cloudy tonight, maybe another night will be clear sky.  Weather permitting, one night we can see it, too.