In late January and early February, the news media are abuzz with coverage about the "green comet" passing through the inner solar system. Although it's expected to be the brightest comet of the year, most comets are extremely dim, requiring observers to view them through telescopes, and this one is no exception—many skywatchers have had to use binoculars to see it.
Formally designated C/2022 E3 (ZTF), this comet has an orbital period of about 50,000 years, meaning that if it was seen during its previous passage, it would've been by Neanderthals (possibly using binoculars). The greenish color reported is fairly common and is most obvious in photographs. It results from the breakup of carbon atoms in the comet's nucleus due to exposure to the Sun's ultraviolet light. Having just passed between the Big and Little Dippers at the end of January, the comet will continue on a path southward between Orion the Hunter and Taurus the Bull, passing near the bright star Capella on February 5, near Mars on February 10, and near the star Aldebaran (the eye of Taurus the Bull) on February 14. How bright it will be on those dates is uncertain, but its location near those objects (within 2 degrees and easily within the same field of view in binoculars) should help make it easier to find...IF it's still bright enough.
Observations suggest that it will quickly fade through February, and the light of the Moon, which is full on February 5, may also interfere with observing. Comet-watchers should view when the Moon is below the horizon and from dark locations either away from or at least shielded by trees from city lights. Trying to predict a comet's visibility is notoriously difficult, as a comet might break up or lose steam and fizzle out after passing the Sun. A few words of wisdom from famed comet-hunter David Levy are perhaps good to keep in mind: "Comets are like cats. They have tails and they do precisely what they want." Some handy finder charts can be found at aerith.net/comet/catalog/2022E3/2022E3.html.