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Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the “Devil’s Comet”, will be visible to the naked eye, according to experts’ predictions. On April 21, 2024, the object will reach the point of maximum approach to the Sun, resulting in an increase in its apparent brightness.
Those who followed the astronomical news of 2023 may remember the comet whose shape resembles the Millennium Falcon spaceship, from the franchise Star Wars. This is 12P/Pons – Brooks, a frozen body that eventually explodes and presents several “spikes” on its cometary tail.
This phenomenon occurs because this is a cryovolcanic comet, that is, it has a cold volcano, with a solid core of ice, dust and gas. When solar radiation heats the object’s core, the ice is vaporized, increasing internal pressure and causing an eruption.
When exploding, the cryovolcano’s gases form a tail different from that seen in “common” comets. In the case of Pons-Brooks, the shape of the spikes reminds some of the character Han Solo’s spaceship, although others prefer to compare the silhouette with horns — hence the nickname “Devil’s Comet”.
Well, the Devil’s comet is traveling towards the Sun and, in April, it will reach perihelion (the point of maximum approach to the Sun that the orbit of a celestial body allows). This will increase its apparent brightness and make it potentially and hopefully visible to the naked eye.
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However, comets are unpredictable objects by nature: as they get closer to the Sun, the chances of them breaking into several pieces increase. If this happens, its glow will become more diffuse and we will hardly be able to see it. The good news is that Pons-Brooks has already made this journey before and survived for another “turn” around our star.
Pons-Brooks’ perihelion is scheduled for April 21, when it will also be relatively close to Earth. But rest assured, the object poses no risk to our planet.
Source: Astronomy
2024-01-03 19:14:32
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