Stargazers hoping to glimpse as ancient green comet are being urged to look to the skies tonight.
The rare celestial visitor is expected to shine brightest during this week after being only visible last month thorough telescope.
The technical name for the 'Green Comet' is C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and will reach the closest point to Earth.
Although it is currently around 28 million miles away, it will be seen in both northern and southern hemispheres.
And tonight it will be at its clearest for sky watchers to catch a glimpse before it disappears.
It was discovered in March 2, last year when it was seen by Zwicky Transient Facility in California, US.
Image:
NASA/AFP via Getty Images)Astronomers then worked out the the last time it was seen from this planet was during the Stone Age.
It is thought to have emerged from outside our solar system in the 'Oort Cloud'.
The cloud is described by NASA as a "collection of icy objects farther away than everything else in the solar system."
No space vehicle has been able to to explore it because it is so far away.
The 'Green Comet' has been most visible as dawn breaks but after the change of month will be seen from tonight depending on the quality of dark skies.
It is expected to be at its brightest between tonight and tomorrow.
The Royal Observatory at Greenwich recommends checking moon rise times in your location to avoid the glow ruining the spectacle.
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)Other suggestions include using an astronomy apps fro example Celestron's SkyPortal.
It provides descriptions of various objects star and comets.
It also has sky coordinates and maps which operate in real time.
Weather reports can impact on whether you will be able see the comet and can b found on the Met Office website.
To see the comet a spot should be found which is far away from way light pollution which affects towns and cities.
Jake Foster, a Royal Observatory astronomer said: “The comet is in the north of our skies, currently close to Polaris, the pole star directly due north.
“The comet is best viewed after midnight, when it reaches its highest point in the sky.
"It will move a significant distance across the sky from night to night as it makes its way towards the constellation of Taurus over the coming weeks.”
Comets should be watched using averted vision' which involves looking to the side by around 20 degrees giving the most sensitive parts of your eyes a better chance of viewing it.
It is at its peak tonight and early tomorrow morning and will be possible to be seen with the naked eye.
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