‘Devil’s Comet’ is seen from Rio Grande do Sul Disclosure: MetSul Meteorologia
Published 04/21/2024 20:56 | Updated 04/21/2024 21:16
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, better known as “Devil’s Comet”, visible throughout the Southern Hemisphere from this Sunday, 21st, was recorded in the early evening in Rio Grande do Sul, in photos released by the company MetSul Meteorologia. Previously, the phenomenon was only observable in countries in the north of the globe.
According to MetSul, “the comet can be seen throughout Brazil at the end of April.” The phenomenon has its perihelion — when it reaches its closest approach to the Sun — precisely at the beginning of the week and, according to projections, it should have its maximum brightness around next Tuesday (23), when it will become more visible to celestial observers.
Experts believe that observation can be difficult with the naked eye and that binoculars or telescopes will make it easier to see the comet in the sky. Within cities, observation tends to be even more difficult. Many people have tried to see the comet so far without success.
How to find the comet?
The observer must look for the western horizon and in areas without obstacles. The comet will appear in the lower part of the sky, just above the horizon, in the moments after sunset. An alternative to better locate the comet is to download a sky visualization application, such as stars and planets, such as Sky Map.
Why the name ‘Devil’s Comet’?
It is not the devil’s comet nor is it an omen of infernal moments. The nickname given, which many will say is in bad taste, is due to the comet’s horn shape that results from the pressure of solar radiation that caused a crooked tail of gas and dust to appear in the sky. This comet is often made brighter by explosions of gas and dust beneath its surface.
Comets are objects composed of frozen gases, rock and dust. When they get closer to the Sun, they become active because the heat warms the comet and the ice turns into gas. From there, a cloud forms around the comet, called a coma.
2P/Pons-Brooks is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 71 years. Comets with an orbital period of 20 to 200 years are classified as Halley-type comets. It is one of the brightest known periodic comets, reaching an absolute visual magnitude of about 5 as it approaches perihelion.
Comet Pons-Brooks was discovered at the Marseille Observatory, in France, in July 1812, by Jean-Louis Pons, and in its next appearance in 1883 by William Robert Brooks. There are ancient historical records of comets suspected to have been sightings of 12P/Pons–Brooks.
