Stargazers, grab your binoculars and telescopes! Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, a “Halley-type” comet with an orbital period of 71 years, is currently gracing the night sky with its presence. Discovered by Jean-Louis Pons and William R. Brooks, this comet is known for sudden flare-ups in brightness, with the most recent occurrence in 2023.
Currently visible in the constellation of Andromeda the Princess, comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will reach perihelion on April 21. It may experience additional flares in the coming weeks before fading rapidly, becoming a Southern Hemisphere observer’s object.
Although it is unlikely to be visible during the total solar eclipse on April 8, this year’s appearance of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a rare opportunity. The next chance to see it won’t be until the summer of 2095.
For those interested in viewing and photographing the comet, guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, and lenses for astrophotography are readily available. So, grab your gear and head outdoors to catch a glimpse of this celestial wonder before it fades away into the depths of space.
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