Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks photographed in March 2024.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is visible in the night sky for observers in the northern hemisphere, offering a rare chance for professional and amateur astronomers to catch a glimpse of an object known for its spectacular outbursts of gas and dust.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a ‘Halley-type’ comet with an orbital period of roughly 71 years and a nucleus approximately 30 km wide. It has been observed during previous journeys through the inner Solar System, allowing astronomers to study its behaviour and characteristics over time.
Like other comets, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is composed of ice, dust, and rocky material. When it approaches the Sun, heat causes the ice inside the comet to turn from solid to gas.
The gas escapes from the surface of the comet, dragging dust with it. They form a large cloud and a tail that is pushed away from the Sun by the solar wind.
Click here for the full story behind its 2024 appearance in the night sky.