How Floridians can view the green comet

Sabin explained, “It will appear like a dim smudge of light, and many people will need to know where to look in the sky. It’s still not going to be ‘obvious’ in the night sky, even under the darkest skies of Florida, as he mentioned. An observer can get better views by moving further away from bright lights.”

He suggested not to anticipate anything exceptionally luminous in the nighttime sky, similar to how the Hale-Bopp comet appeared in 1997.

Sabin, who joined the Deep Sky Observers’ Local Group in 1983 when it was established and has served as its president since 2016, expressed, “… This particular celestial object will prove to be quite challenging (to observe), despite all the media attention it is receiving. However, it will not captivate observers in the same way as the remarkable comets of the recent decades. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that individuals should refrain from attempting to observe it.”

The comet will come closest to Earth on Wednesday, February 1st.

Sabin states that on Sunday, Feb. 5, the comet will be directly above and “in close proximity to the luminous star Capella,” gradually rising higher in the nocturnal expanse with each passing night. Positioned amidst the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, the emerald comet will be visible in the northern sky throughout the evening, according to him.

To capture this mesmerizing emerald spectacle, Floridians will require a stable camera, along with a tripod and the use of time exposure for a duration ranging from 15 to 30 seconds. Sabin provides a comprehensive overview of the essentials for those aspiring to seize this remarkable phenomenon.

However, Sabin cautions individuals in Florida who believe they may receive something exceptional.

He mentioned, “In the picture, they will probably be able to capture at least a ‘blurry blob’ as long as the photo is pointing in the general direction of the comet.” “When capturing objects in low light conditions, several camera phones (including recent versions of the iPhone) provide a ‘night mode’ that delivers a remarkably decent image,” he will remark.

Sabin mentioned, “When you observe a comet, it will appear to be still, but in reality, they are in motion. These comets are not stationary and instead zoom past like shooting stars.” Additionally, Sabin shared another piece of information.

Sabin mentioned that it is in motion, quite similar to observing the moon. As Earth rotates, its position will alter, necessitating adjustments to be made in order to track its trajectory when observing it with a camera, telescope, or binoculars.

And for those utilizing a telescope or binoculars, Sabin additionally offers a few recommendations.

He declared, “Using a telescope definitely starts with an eyepiece that provides the lowest magnification. If they are using binoculars, they offer the widest field of view as a great tool. It is even more important to know exactly where to look, as the narrower the field of view, the higher the magnification you use, and you need to know where to point your equipment.”

For numerous people, the uncommon event of coming across the jade comet could function as the catalyst to spark an interest in the domain of astronomy.

For Sabin, it was a journey at a very early stage in life.

“He expressed,” for 57 years the fascination hasn’t diminished. “At the age of 5, my parents brought me to the Hayden Planetarium in New York City,” initiated my fascination with astronomy.