If you've ventured into the Oort cloud lately, you might have glimpsed C/2022 (ZTF), a non-periodic comet adorned with a stunning green glow. For those of us earthbound observers, this celestial nomad was first detected on March 2, 2022, by the Zwicky Transient Facility. That dazzling green aura is caused by sunlight striking diatomic carbon and cyanogen around its nucleus, which is thought to measure around 1 km in size.

In January 2023, the comet swung closest to the sun—about 166 million km away—during its perihelion, showcasing an impressive tail and briefly, an anti-tail that intriguingly pointed toward the sun. Its nearest approach to Earth was a mere 42 million kilometres, offering a rare and breathtaking sight under dark, clear skies.

‍