May 18, 2024

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“Bigger than Mount Everest”: Scientists are delighted with the comet that will appear in our solar system

“Bigger than Mount Everest”: Scientists are delighted with the comet that will appear in our solar system

Astronomy enthusiasts are thrilled about a comet larger than Mount Everest.

Her lovers Astronomy They will enjoy a unique event, as one Comet more than Everst top It is set to grace the night sky in the coming weeks, making its first appearance inside the solar system in more than 70 years. the Cometknown as 12P/Pons-Brooks, is on its way to approach the Sun at April 21Astronomers expect that it can be seen with the naked eye.

the Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which is characterized as a Halley-type comet, completes its orbit around the Sun once every 71.3 years, making it a once-or perhaps twice-in-a-lifetime event for skywatchers. the Comet It was first recognized in 1812 by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons, and later observed during its next orbit in 1883 by British-American astronomer William Robert Brooks. Historical reports indicate that 12P/Pons-Brooks may have been visible as early as the 14th century.

With a core estimated to be about 30 kilometers in diameter, this icy body is a cold volcanic comet. This classification means that it explodes with dust, gases and ice when the internal pressure increases as its temperature rises.

Although the comet, which has a distinctive green colour, has already been spotted in the night sky, it is expected to become even brighter in the coming weeks. doctor. Paul Strom, an astrophysicist at the University of Warwick, notes: “The comet is expected to reach a magnitude of 4.5, which means it can be seen from a dark place in the UK».

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As 12P/Pons-Brooks prepares for its close encounter with the Sun, amateur and professional astronomers alike wait in anticipation, hoping to get a clear view of this stunning comet that spans centuries of sky-observing history.