During this time, after the sun has set in the early evening. If the sky is clear one day We will have a chance to see it. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks that is clear and visible with the naked eye Until the end of April 2024, because this is the time when the comet orbits the closest to the sun.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Classified as a “short-period comet” (periodic comet) of the same type as Halley’s famous comet (1P/Halley) It has an orbital period of about 71 years It was first discovered by Jean-Louis Pons French astronomer in 1812 and rediscovered in 1883 by William Robert Brooks American astronomer Hence the origin of the name comet. 12P/Pons-Brooks
This comet circles the sun in a very elliptical orbit. The closest point to the Sun is only 116 million kilometers (0.77 AU), and the farthest point is 4,965 million kilometers (33.2 AU). This is the time when the comet orbits closest to the Sun. This is because the nucleus of the comet receives more energy and radiation from the sun. This causes a large cloud of dust and gas to spread out. which is now comet 12P/Pons-Brooks It is orbiting closer and closer to the sun, with April 23, 2024 being the day when the comet will orbit closest to the sun.
From the forecast by theskylive.com website, comets can have apparent brightness values up to magnitude 4.42, similar to the brightness values of the Orion Nebula (M42) and open clusters in the constellation Canis Majora (M41). , During the period when the comet is closest to the sun The comet will be visible to the naked eye The expected brightness rating is only a preliminary estimate. True clarity depends on many factors. The comet may be brighter or smaller than expected.
At this time comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Views can be made in the early evening after sunset from today onwards. At the time when the sun is setting behind the horizon Comets only have an elevation angle of about 12 degrees, so they only have a short time in the sky before they go behind the sun. The low angle of the comet may make it difficult to see due to atmospheric pollution. Then the comet gradually Change position, moving to the constellation of the Ram (Aries) at the end of March. It will move towards the constellation Taurus at the end of April, when the comet is likely to be at its brightest.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks It is characterized as one of the brightest short-lived comets. and it has an orbital period similar to Halley’s Comet That means In a person’s life there will be only one chance to see this comet. Before the comet leaves the sun, it slowly fades into space. Then it will come back close to the sun for us to see again in the next 71 years.
Thanks for the info – reference photo
– www.skyatnightmagazine.com
– www.spektrum.de
– National Astronomical Research Institute NARIT
