Alexander Lewis
Nov 14, 2023
Get ready to witness a cosmic spectacle. A colossal comet, towering twice the size of Mount Everest, will zoom past Earth in spring 2024.
Meet the “Devil Comet”, making a grand return since its last visit in 1954. And guess what? This comet's got an ice volcano, adding an extra dash of cosmic drama to its already impressive resume.
Recent explosions and predictions by scientists indicate that this celestial visitor is gearing up to put on an exceptional show, lighting up the skies in the North State region.
Curious about how close it will come to Earth? With its distinctive “horns”, the Devil Comet might just be visible to the naked eye by April 21. Mark your calendars for June 2, the day it's set to shine its brightest, although still a whopping 144 million miles away from our home turf.
Threats?
Let's breathe easy, though. This mighty comet poses no threat to us, snuggled comfortably at a distance equivalent to that between the sun and Mars. So, all we have to do is sit back and enjoy what promises to be an awe-inspiring cosmic performance.
But here's the catch — it's a once-in-a-lifetime show. After its dazzling display, the Devil Comet won't be back for another 71 years.
12/P Pons-Brooks
Now, what makes this cosmic wanderer stand out? Dubbed 12/P Pons-Brooks, it belongs to a unique league of comets known for cryovolcanic activity, showing off an ice volcano on its surface. Instead of molten rock, these cryovolcanoes erupt water, ice, and other compounds, creating intriguing formations across the comet's surface.
Picture a sun-orbiting comet like the Devil Comet or Halley's Comet — made up of dust and ice. As they approach the sun, these comets transform into radiant spectacles, with their long, glowing “tails” stretching millions of miles.
The recent eruptions on the Devil Comet, reported since June 2022 and as recent as October, have been creating a real buzz among astronomers. These outbursts, triggered by solar radiation heating the comet's core, form the distinctive “horns” that make it stand out.
These comets are remnants from our solar system's formation billions of years ago, often pulled from their usual haunts in the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud due to gravitational forces. But predicting their behaviour can be as tricky as herding cats, given their wide orbits and occasional unpredictability.
Eager to catch a glimpse? Head to rural areas away from city lights.
