2024-03-17 23:47:50
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which passes near Earth every 71 years, will be visible over the next two weeks from the surface of the blue planet.
However, people wishing to observe this star will need to bring binoculars or a small telescope, reports The Independent.
Depending on how its brightness changes over the next few days, it could even be visible to the eye at a certain time.
“If we’re lucky, she’ll have another [augmentation de son activité] over the next few weeks,” explains astrophysicist at the University of Central Lancashire, Dr. Megan Argo to the English media.
The latter specifies that this comet spends the majority of the time in orbit at the outer ends of the solar system, but that it returns to the sun approximately every 71 years.
The heat produced by the star causes the ice on the surface of the star to immediately transform into gas, which causes materials to detach from its surface to form a luminous trail.
This process is called “sublimation.”
“The trail is made up of gas and dust which is moved by the force of solar winds,” continues the astrophysicist. The trail can become spectacular in the sky when observed from Earth.”
Ms. Argo says that although this trail is developing well, it is not yet visible to the naked eye.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks was named in honor of Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks, who discovered it in 1812.
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