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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/mar/11/larger-than-everest-comet-could-become-visible-to-naked-eye-this-month>
"A comet that is larger than Mount Everest could become visible to the naked
eye in the coming weeks as it continues its first visit to the inner solar
system in more than 70 years, say astronomers.
The icy body is a Halley-type comet – meaning it will turn up once, or possibly
twice, in a lifetime. Indeed 12P/Pons-Brooks, as it is known, completes its
orbit once every 71.3 years, and is due to make its closest approach to the sun
on 21 April.
While some reports suggest 12P/Pons-Brooks was spotted as far back as the 14th
century, it is named after the French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons who discovered
it in 1812 and the British-American astronomer William Robert Brooks who
observed it on its next orbit in 1883.
Thought to have a nucleus about 30km (20 miles) in diameter, it is classed as a
cryovolcanic comet, meaning it erupts with dust, gases and ice when pressure
builds inside as it is heated.
One such outburst last year caused it to brighten a hundredfold and garnered it
the sobriquet of “the Devil Comet” after the haze that surrounds it formed a
horned shape.
While the comet – and its green tinge – has already been spotted in the night
sky, experts say it is expected to become even brighter in the coming weeks.
“The comet is expected to reach a magnitude of 4.5 which means it ought to be
visible from a dark location in the UK,” said Dr Paul Strøm, an astrophysicist
at the University of Warwick.
“The comet moves from the constellation of Andromeda to Pisces. As it does so
it passes by bright stars which will make it easier to spot on certain dates.
In particular, on 31 March 12P/Pons-Brooks will be only 0.5 a degree from the
bright star called Hamal,” he said.
But Dr Robert Massey, the deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical
Society, said even if the comet did become brighter it could still be difficult
to see, adding that basic instruments such as small telescopes would greatly
help.
“If you have a half-decent pair of binoculars, certainly attempt to look for it
with those,” said Massey, adding that apps that map the sky were also useful."
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*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
