When and Where to See the Rare Green Comet Over New England
Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.
It may be cold, but at least the skies are clear enough to see a rare green comet blaze overhead.
Comet ZTF is appearing overhead for the first time in 50,000 years, according to Cambridge, Massachusetts-based astrological organization Sky & Telescope.
You can find the comet by looking between the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. A bright moon over the weekend could make it difficult to see without a telescope or high-powered binoculars.
However, experts in Cambridge say the night sky rarity should be fully viewable from February 6 to 22, with the best viewing times coming at dusk before the moon fully rises.
And if you see something that’s a blue-green, feel free to zero in. You’ve probably got the right one.
S&T is quick to note, however, that the comet may not live up to all the press it's been getting in recent days. Still, it’s a recently discovered comet that doesn’t come around all that often.
At the very least, why not make a wish?
It’s also not a spy balloon from China or one of the mysterious entrails seen by residents of New Hampshire or Maine back in the fall. Have no fear – there was a logical explanation for that too, after all.
New England has a long-documented fascination with rare or unexplained aerial phenomena. The most famous is arguably New Hampshire’s “Exeter Incident,” which has maintained widespread fame despite being debunked over a decade ago.
But the curiosity has proved fruitful, as one Granite Stater’s UFO fixation landed him an acclaimed dramedy on SyFy.
And I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a question or two about something strange I accidentally caught on camera a couple years back.