Berlin. What's striking: Comet Pons Brooks is hurtling toward Earth and will be clearly visible in Germany. Whoever missed it must wait: 71 years.
In order to reunite with Ponce Brooks You have to be young – and grow old. The comet revolves around the sun only every 71 years. So much for the grace of a second date.
The cold ball of ice is close to the ground now. Recently, he has shined much more, as reported by the “Friends of the Stars” Association. “also Beginners He should now Endoscopes Stand out.” Well, novice is a broad term.
Days: April 8
Astronomers in the United States are in a jubilant mood. Some speculate that the comet appeared during totality Solar eclipse on April 8 It will be visible in the dark sky. He has already created amazing images that can be liked on social networks like X.
This rare sight will only be seen in North America this time. Therefore, the solar eclipse “unfortunately does not play any role in possible observation from Germany,” he explains Leibniz Institute of AstrophysicsWhich is located in Potsdam, best address: “An der Sternwarte 16”. As the very experienced astronomer Manfred Gayda assures our editorial team, “both events together will not be seen in the sky in Germany.”
According to a report by Smithsonian Magazine, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is about 29 kilometers in diameter and is an “outer ball.” Dust, rocks and iceIts name is a combination of the names of two astronomers who may have first observed it: Jean-Louis Pons (1812) and William Brooks (1883).
Amazing pictures on the internet
The culprit is Cold volcano. Sometimes gas is released. These shocks can result in a brighter glow. Then a cloud of steam and dust expands around the comet's rocky nucleus. It looks like a horseshoe to some and a horn to others, so some call it a “horned” comet or “devil’s comet.”
If they can order that, astronomers will pinpoint the next outburst on April 8. This is how we explain the Bulgarian planetary scientist Rosita Kokotanikova. “I don't want people to be disappointed if they don't see the comet,” she says. “If people expect Something very bright “I think it would be more difficult to see it in a completely dark sky,” unless you are lucky with an outbreak. good luck.
Many astronomers in the United States have already seen it. Some breathtaking pictures. check it out Amazing tweet in.
“While it is currently sun “As it approaches its next point on April 21, its height above the horizon as we can see from us decreases,” Janine Vollmeister of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics explains to our editorial team. However, it is currently not bright enough to observe without binoculars at our latitude. This is possible in April.
This is how you see “the man with the horns”
Unfortunately, it is currently moving in a starless region, according to the Friends of the Stars Association. She recommends that beginners first explore the stars Andromeda and Aretes using… Rotating star map Or the application. It can definitely be seen with the naked eye.
You can then estimate the comet's location among these stars and look there with binoculars. “A small instrument is enough; Pons-Brooks has already been observed with the naked eye under very good conditions.” end of the month It comes close to Arietis and is therefore easy to find.
Amateur astronomer Thomas Becker of Westhaveland Star Park in front of his refractor telescope.
© Data Protection Agency images | Jens Kalin
You should start monitoring when… dusk The country has progressed well, but the sky is not yet completely dark, in this country between 7.30pm and 8pm. “You should first look for a mysterious star. It's not too difficult to see the tail either.”
Comet timeline
On his way, Pons Brooks races some pretty cool orbs. On March 31, it will appear near the star Hamel, which is the brightest star in the constellation Aries. April 12-14 will be soon Jupiter To see.
On June 2, it will cross the point in its orbit closest to our planet and appear in the constellation Lepus. But then, according to New Scientist's Abigail Bell, it will only exist in… Southern Hemisphere Being visible.
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