Pasadena, California – Astronomers are in for a celestial treat as an unusual horned comet, known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, is set to make a rare appearance during the total solar eclipse on April 8. The comet, which has been making headlines for its recent outbursts, will be visible in the night sky for the rest of March, with the Northern Hemisphere getting the best view in the last 10 days of the month.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has been drawing comparisons to the Millennium Falcon spacecraft from “Star Wars” due to its unique shape when explosively active, leaving scientists puzzled about its nature and behavior. With the comet completing only one orbit around the sun every 71 years, astronomers are eager to gather collective observations to unravel its mysteries before it disappears for decades.
As the comet approaches its closest pass of the sun on April 21, coming within 74.4 million miles (119.7 million kilometers) of our star, astronomers are gearing up to study this rare visitor from space. The comet will then make its closest approach to Earth on June 2, providing an opportunity to observe it from a safe distance of 139.4 million miles (224.4 million kilometers) away.
Dr. Paul Chodas and Davide Farnocchia from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory recommend using binoculars to view the brightening comet low in the west about an hour after sunset. After April 2, the comet is expected to move into the daytime sky and won’t be visible at night, except during the total solar eclipse on April 8, where it will be easily spotted about 25 degrees away from the eclipsed sun.
First observed by Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks in 1812, the devil comet has been causing a stir among astronomers with its recent outbursts, ejecting gas and dust as it journeys through the solar system. The comet’s distinct appearance and behavior have left scientists intrigued, with further studies aimed at uncovering details about its rotation rate and the mechanisms behind its outbursts.
Despite the comet’s captivating horned appearance and fascinating journey through space, astronomers are focused on unraveling the mysteries surrounding Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks as it continues to provide valuable insights into the universe. With its upcoming rare appearances in the night sky and during the total solar eclipse, sky-gazers are encouraged to seize the opportunity to witness this celestial phenomenon firsthand.