A lifetime opportunity to observe the 'evil comet'

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, nicknamed 'the devil comet'

Astronomers and stargazers around the world are anxiously awaiting the return of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, nicknamed the "Devil Comet," today (June 2), according to CNN.

In a few hours, the infamous comet will make its closest approach to Earth, coming within about 230 million kilometers of our planet. This will be the closest approach of the "evil comet" since 1954.

12P/Pons-Brooks takes about 71 years to complete its orbit around the sun, meaning the probability that a human on Earth will be able to observe this celestial body is once in their lifetime, if they are lucky.

If we miss this opportunity, the next appearance of the "evil comet" will be in the 2090s.

Initially, it took two generations of astronomers to successfully observe the "Devil Comet", first by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons in the 1810s and second by British astronomer William Robert Brooks in the 1880s.

The "Evil Comet" is also larger than most comets. Its diameter is estimated to be between 29 and 30.5 kilometers, which is 10 to 15 times larger than an average comet.

Astronomers are tracking the comet's journey toward Earth in hopes of learning more about it, such as its rotation rate. 12P/Pons-Brooks' rotation rate as it hurtles through space is 57 hours, which is longer than usual. And researchers want to figure out why.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-hoi-cuoi-ca-doi-nguoi-de-quan-sat-sao-choi-ac-quy-185240602101812355.htm