2024-03-22 05:30:02
She only shows up every 71 years. And there are many who have been tracking her since March. The Devil’s Comet is visible in the sky again. Explanations.
This is the first astronomical spectacle of this year 2024 to be observed in the sky. The Devil’s Comet, its real name 12P/Pons-Brooks, is gradually approaching the sun and the Earth. Astrophotographers are having a field day. Renowned for being luminous, this celestial body gains in brightness day after day. And the comet should be particularly visible from this Friday, March 22, according to specialists.
The comet was discovered on July 12, 1812 by the Frenchman, Jean-Louis Pons, then concierge of the Marseille observatory. It will be used again in 1883 by the American astronomer, William Robert Brooks. Hence its baptismal name: 12P/Pons-Brooks.
Cryovolcanic, the comet is hyperactive. As it approaches the sun, the ice in its core sublimates, going from a solid to a gaseous state. An activity at the origin of its hair with two horns, hence its nickname.
“In mainland France, the comet is currently visible at the very beginning of the night. At the spring equinox, since Wednesday March 20, it becomes an evening star, observable one hour after dark“, indicates theParis observatory.
This is how the morphology of the tail of the COMET changes ☄️
March 16 —— March 18
📷 Sormano Astronomical Observatory (E. Colzani)
☄️ 12P/Pons-Brooks pic.twitter.com/65Zw4xPPfp— Prades Astronomical Park (@parcastroprades) March 21, 2024
On its website, the Cité de l’espace in Toulouse publishes a sky map showing the positions of the Devil’s Comet from March 19 to 25, 2024, around 9 p.m.
Sky map showing the positions of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks from March 19 to 25, 2024 around 9 p.m. Map calculated for Toulouse, but valid for the whole of mainland France. • © Cité de l’espace / Stellarium
To observe it, it is better to equip yourself with binoculars and position yourself far from any light pollution. Look slightly above the horizon, near the constellation Pisces. Please note that as of June 2, it will no longer be visible in the northern hemisphere. It will only return to our field of vision in 2095.
1711087550
#devils #comet #years #absence