NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 9 January 2023: Comet E3 ZTF, seen by Neanderthals, shot
NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day is a stunning image of a comet which is set to pass Earth closely next month.
Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust roughly the size of a small town. A comet also orbits the Sun, but unlike an asteroid, it's mostly composed of ice and dust. When a comet gets close to the Sun, its ice and dust content start to vaporize. So, when seen in a telescope, a comet appears fuzzy and has a tail. So, if you're an avid comet watcher, there is exciting news for you. A comet…