The astronomical highlight of January has undoubtedly been the approach of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Because its orbit is so incredibly long, the last time this comet passed by the Earth, Neanderthals were still walking the planet.

It has a distinctive, brilliant green hue caused by diatomic carbon glowing in the ultraviolet light from the Sun. Seeing the flood of beautiful, long-exposure astrophotography online has been a real treat.

While it hasn't quite put on the spectacular naked-eye show that NEOWISE did a few years ago, tracking a muddy green tinted smudge through binoculars as it drifts through the northern constellations is a wonderful reminder of the dynamic, ancient debris that litters our solar system.