By Mark Videan
The sky
Later this month, a newly sighted comet (first spotted by present-day humans in early March 2022) may be bright enough to see with the naked eye and certainly by using binoculars or a telescope. Known officially as comet C/2022 E3(ZTF), its closest approach to Earth (within 26 million miles) will be between Feb. 1-2. However, the best time for viewing may be around Jan. 21, when the Moon is at its dimmest.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be visible moving northwest in the morning sky in January as it travels in its 50,000-year orbit around the Sun. The last humans to observe the comet would have been alive during the most recent Ice Age.
The screen
“Good Night Oppy” ⸺ the wondrous story on film of Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rover that outlived its 90-day lifespan by 14.75 years ⸺ will be shown at 7 p.m. , Jan. 31, at the Vogue Theatre in Manistee. The movie, released in November 2022, follows the rover nicknamed “Oppy” by her NASA creators and scientists. She traveled 28 miles over the Martian surface and made numerous scientific discoveries before a sandstorm stopped her in her tracks in 2019.
NASA employees and thousands of people around the world made deep emotional connections to the plucky rover. Engineers made more than 1,000 attempts to restart Oppy, but none worked.
On Feb. 12, 2019, ground control sent one final message, transmitting Billie Holiday’s “I’ll Be Seeing You”. A NASA scientist posted the lyrics on Twitter, and it went viral: “I’ll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new, I’ll be looking at the Moon but I’ll be seeing you.”
Tickets are $6-$8. The Vogue Theatre is located at 383 River St. in Manistee. https://voguetheatremanistee.org/
