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Currently, a comet that orbits the Earth every 71 years can be seen in the night sky using either binoculars or a small telescope.
According to astronomers, the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is becoming more luminous and there is a chance that it may be visible to the naked eye in the upcoming weeks.
According to Dr. Megan Argo, an astrophysicist at the University of Central Lancashire, there have been multiple instances of heightened activity and resulting increases in brightness for this phenomenon.
She stated: “With luck, it may have another occurrence in the upcoming weeks while traveling through the sky.”
Comets are astronomical bodies composed primarily of particles of dust, rock, and frozen water.
Dr. Argo compared them to large, dirty snowballs.
Pons-Brooks comet, named after its discoverers Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks, primarily exists in the distant parts of the solar system, experiencing extremely low temperatures. Every 71 years, it returns to the inner solar system, classifying it as a recurring comet.
According to Dr. Argo, when the comet approaches the sun, the high temperature causes the ice to directly transform into gas, a phenomenon known as sublimation. As a result, some of the material on the surface is lost.
She explained that this gas creates a cloud called the coma around the comet’s solid nucleus, as well as a tail of material that can extend millions of miles in space.
The comet tail is composed of a combination of gas and dust, which has been expelled from the comet due to the force of solar wind coming from the sun. This tail is the element that can create a stunning display in the Earth’s sky.
According to Dr. Argo, the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is growing a beautiful tail, but it cannot be seen without binoculars or a telescope at this time.
To locate the comet, look below, and slightly to the left, of the Andromeda galaxy.
Stuart Atkinson, a non-professional stargazer from Cumbria, has been monitoring the entity for a period of time and capturing images with his Canon 700D digital camera.
According to him, 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently visible to the naked eye, but in actuality, it requires binoculars or a telescope to be seen due to light pollution in most areas where people reside.
Many individuals believe that comets zoom through the atmosphere, resembling shooting stars. However, this is not accurate. In reality, their movement each night is minimal, which means they will remain visible in the sky for a considerable amount of time.
Stuart Atkinson, an amateur astronomer, is discovering his love for capturing images of the nighttime sky.
Mr Atkinson, who has written 14 books on astronomy, said: “Over the next few week or so it will brighten a little more, but the moon is in the sky now, and its brightness will dim the comet.”
According to him, the optimal method for viewing the comet is to locate an area with clear, unobstructed views of the dark skies, without any large trees, structures, or hills obstructing the view.
He advised using binoculars to view the comet, but warned that it will likely appear as a blurry star with a faint tail.
“Fortunately, there is a luminous planet situated near it, Jupiter. Therefore, if you gradually shift your binoculars to the right of Jupiter, it will aid in locating the desired object.”
Many believe that comets swiftly streak through the sky, resembling shooting stars. However, this is not accurate. In reality, comets only have a limited daily movement and can remain visible in the sky for an extended period of time.
If you are looking to capture images, Mr. Atkinson recommends using a DSLR camera mounted on a tripod or a telescope.
He noted that the comet cannot be easily captured by phone cameras due to its small size and dimness. However, utilizing features such as ‘night mode’ or an astrophotography application may increase the chances of capturing it. Nonetheless, the comet’s small size makes it a difficult subject to capture with a phone camera.
Source: independent.co.uk
