2022e3 20230121 0130 hallen

Under a beautifully clear but freezing cold sky, I stayed up into the small hours to get a first spectrum of the coma of the brightening comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). It shows the classic cometary emission spectrum with the blue-green carbon Swan bands very prominent. What is stunning is the intense cyanogen CN band down in the near UV. If our eyes (and cameras!) were sensitive down at these wavelengths then this would be a violet not green comet! 

Observer

Hugh Allen
Observed

2023 Jan 21 - 01:30
Uploaded

2023 Jan 21 - 15:25
Objects

C/2022 E3
Spectrum
Equipment

    8" Meade LX90 at f6.3
    Alpy 600 spectroscope
    Atik 314L camera

Exposure

5 x 600sec exposures
Location

Wells, Somerset UK
Target name

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF
Title

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF coma spectrum