New Delhi: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, called the ‘Mother of Dragons’ is visible in the northern hemisphere sky and stargazers can get glimpses of these alien bodies as they move closer to Earth.
The ‘Halley-type’ comet with an orbit of about 71 years has a nucleus that spans about 30 kilometers in diameter and is observed periodically as it travels through the inner solar system.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is classified as a Jupiter-family comet, meaning its orbit is affected by Jupiter’s gravitational pull. It usually reaches perihelion (the closest approach to the Sun) around the orbit of Mars and can be visible to observers on Earth when approaching it. Although it is also called a devil comet, astronomers pop cult
Comets are icy objects that merge with planets before ejecting the Sun’s kingdom outward. (Photo: ESA)
Composed of ice, dust, and rocky matter, as 12P/Pons-Brooks approaches the Sun, heat turns the ice inside the comet from solid to gas. The gas escapes from the comet’s surface, pulling dust with it. They form a large cloud and a tail that is pushed away from the Sun by the solar wind.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks exhibits variable visibility. In near-Earth peak activity, it glows brightly; However, at other times, it can lead to fainting.
This closest approach to Earth will occur in June 2024, although observations from the Northern Hemisphere will not be possible by then. The best viewing opportunities are in late March and early April when it will hold clear, dark skies above the post-dusk western horizon.
