BALTIMORE, MD—A newly discovered comet will pass by Earth over the next few weeks for the first time in 50,000 years.

The comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF), was first sighted in March 2022, when it was already inside the orbit of Jupiter. It makes its closest approach to the Sun on January 12, and then passes its closest to Earth on February 2.

NASA says the comet should be visible with a telescope and likely with binoculars.

If C/2022 E3 (ZTF) continues its current trend in brightness, it will be easy to spot with binoculars, and it may even become visible to the naked eye under dark skies.

Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will find the comet in the morning sky, as it moves swiftly toward the northwest during January.

The best opportunity for Northern Hemisphere stargazers to witness the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon will be just before midnight on January 12, according to EarthSky.

More in the video below from NASA.

Photo via Pixabay