“Devil's Comet” 12P/Pons-Brooks in front of the Ruby Nebula
Cryovolcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, known for its spectacular eruptions, has once again attracted the attention of the astronomical community. New photos show this comet passing in front of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888).
12P/Pons-Brooks has a diameter of approximately 17 kilometers and completes its orbit around the Sun in 71 years. It is classified as a cryovolcanic comet, which means its eruptions are caused by solar radiation affecting its frozen material.
Cryovolcanic comets manifest themselves most clearly when solar radiation destroys the comet's solid shell, causing the release of icy contents into outer space. This leads to an inflated coma — clouds of ice, dust and gas surrounding the comet's nucleus, making it temporarily brighter.
12P has not erupted since November 14, 2023. Before this, the comet erupted approximately every 15 days. The lack of 12P activity has puzzled scientists, especially because eruptions are predicted to become more frequent and intense as the comet gets closer to the Sun and is exposed to more solar radiation. In July 2023, astronomers observed the last major eruption after more than 69 years of silence, followed by several similar events. During these episodes, the coma took the form of “horns”, leading to the unusual name “devil's comet”. However, the last eruption in November did not produce horns.
The Crescent Nebula, composed of ionized gas, provides an excellent backdrop for observing Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. January photographs taken by amateur astronomer Michael Yaeger of Martinsburg, Austria, and Rok Palcic of the Rezman Observatory in Slovenia captured the astonishingly bright and green coma of the cosmic object. The color of the coma is due to the emission of diatomaceous carbon molecules, which is a rare phenomenon, and gives beauty and atmosphere to this cosmic event.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is expected to pass close to the Sun in April and approach Earth in early June this year, possibly becoming visible to the naked eye.