The “Devil’s Comet” Attracts Astronomical Attention
The celestial body known as the “Devil’s Comet” has been causing a stir in the astronomy community. Officially named 12P/Pons-Brooks, the massive comet has been the subject of intense interest and debate, despite posing no threat to the Earth.
Comet Pons-Brooks is a short-period comet that orbits the Sun every 71.2 years. It was first discovered in 1812 by comet hunter Jean-Louis Pons, but its orbit was not accurately predicted until it was rediscovered by William Brooks in 1883. Modern astronomers have even suggested that the comet may have been recorded before 1385.
The brightness of the comet suggests that its core diameter reaches about 17 kilometers, making it a massive celestial body. However, a 2020 study indicates that this estimate may be an overestimate. Regardless, it is still comparable in size to the famous Halley’s Comet.
Comet Pons-Brooks has a highly inclined orbit that will pass above the plane of the planets’ orbits and into the inner solar system, but it will never cross Earth’s orbit. It is expected to pass by the Earth at a safe distance of about 1.5 astronomical units (1.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun) in June 2024.
One especially exciting event for astronomy enthusiasts is the comet’s passing of perihelion on April 21, 2024, exactly two weeks after the North American total solar eclipse on April 8. During this time, the comet may be visible to the naked eye in the twilight of the total solar eclipse.
Despite its ominous nickname, the “Devil’s Comet” is simply a fascinating object of study for astronomers. Its upcoming interactions with Earth and other celestial events are sure to provide exciting opportunities for observation and research.
Source: astronomy
Source of the first picture: Yahoo News