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A comet that flies near Earth once every 71 years is currently able to be seen in the evening sky with binoculars or small telescopes.
Astronomers say 12P/Pons-Brooks is growing brighter and there is a possibility sky gazers will be able to see it with the naked eye in the coming weeks.
Dr Megan Argo from the University of Central Lancashire reports that this object has experienced multiple bursts of activity, causing its brightness to intermittently increase.
She mentioned, “If we are fortunate enough, there may be another one in the coming weeks as it moves across the sky.”
Comets are astronomical bodies primarily composed of particles, stones, and frozen substances.
According to Dr. Argo, one can consider them to be similar to enormous, contaminated snowballs.
The comet known as 12P/Pons-Brooks, named after its founders Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks, primarily resides in the distant regions of the Solar System, characterized by extreme low temperatures.
The comet returns to the inner Solar System once every 71 years, earning the title of a periodic comet.
According to Dr. Argo, as the comet approaches the Sun, the high temperatures cause the ice to directly turn into gas, a process known as sublimation. This leads to the loss of some material from the comet’s surface.
According to her, this particular gas creates a surrounding cloud around the comet’s solid core, referred to as the coma, as well as an extended tail made of material that can reach distances of millions of miles in space.
The comet’s tail is created from the combination of gaseous and dusty particles that have been forced away from the comet by the strong solar wind originating from the Sun. This tail has the potential to be a stunning sight in the night sky when viewed from Earth.
According to Dr. Argo, although the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is growing a pleasant tail, it is currently not observable without the use of binoculars or a telescope.
To find the comet, look downward and to the left of the Andromeda galaxy.
Stuart Atkinson is a hobbyist stargazer from Cumbria who has been monitoring the object for a period of time and capturing images with his Canon 700D DSLR camera.
According to him, 12P/Pons-Brooks is presently visible to the naked eye due to technical reasons. However, in practicality, it requires either binoculars or a telescope to be observed due to the presence of light pollution in most areas where people reside.
Many people believe that comets travel quickly through the sky, resembling shooting stars. However, this is not accurate as they actually only make small movements each night. Therefore, the comet will remain visible in the sky for a significant period of time.
Frequent and well-liked, Stuart Atkinson is a regular contributor to the astronomy blog.
According to Mr Atkinson, who has authored 14 publications on the subject of astronomy, the comet’s visibility is expected to slightly increase in the upcoming weeks. However, its luminosity will be diminished due to the presence of the Moon in the night sky.
He suggested finding an area with minimal light pollution and no obstructions like trees, buildings, or hills in order to get the best view of the comet.
He stated that binoculars would be necessary to view the comet, but even with them, it will only appear as a blurry star with a faint tail trailing behind.
Fortunately, there is a luminous planet in close proximity – Jupiter – which can serve as a guide for locating the object. Simply rotate your binoculars to the right of Jupiter at a gradual pace for assistance.
Many believe that comets race through the sky effortlessly, akin to shooting stars. However, this is a misconception as they actually only travel a short distance each night. Therefore, the comet will still be visible in the sky for some time.
For individuals interested in photographing, Mr. Atkinson suggests using a DSLR camera mounted on a tripod or a telescope.
According to him, the comet is not easily visible on phone cameras due to its small size and low brightness. However, using the specialized “night mode” or an astrophotography app may make it possible to capture, although it may still be challenging due to its small size.
Source: independent.co.uk
