The British Astronomical Society is closely monitoring Comet 12P. (representational image)
Scientists have warned that a “horned” comet three times larger than Mount Everest has exploded for the second time in four months and is now heading towards Earth. The comet, called 12P/Pons-Brooks, is a cold volcanic comet, or a cold volcano, according to the American “space” website. Live sciences. It is 18.6 miles (30 km) in diameter, and erupted on October 5.
This is the second time this comet has erupted during the past four months, and the last celestial event occurred in July. the British Astronomical Society (BAA), which was closely monitoring 12P, discovered the explosion after noticing that it appeared dozens of times brighter due to light reflected from its coma – the cloud gas surrounding its center.
Over the next few days, the comet’s coma expanded further and developed its distinctive “horns,” Live sciences mentioned. Some experts joked that the coma’s irregular shape also makes it look like a science-fiction spaceship, like the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars.”
The cause of the pods is unclear, however, experts believe it could be caused by the shape of the 12P nucleus. Richard Miles of the British Astronomical Society said: “These two horns may have been caused by a strangely shaped cold volcanic vent with some sort of obstruction causing material to be expelled in a strange flow pattern.” New York Post.
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But despite the ominous path of 12P, there is no need to prepare for a “deep impact yet.” Scientists said that the comet will not reach its closest point to Earth until 2024, when it becomes visible with the naked eye. This comet will then be ejected back into the solar system, and will not make its cosmic return tour until 2095.
Notably, this is the second explosion of 12P since July 20, when the celestial body exploded for the first time in 69 years. During this eruption, the horn-like emissions were 7,000 times larger than the comet itself.
Quoted from BAE, Live sciences She stated that at the present time, it is unclear how large the coma grew during the recent eruption, but there are indications that the explosion was “twice the intensity” of the previous explosion. By now, the coma has likely shrunk back to almost its normal size, she added.
Now, this comet could attract more attention next year if it continues to explode. It was first discovered by Jean-Louis Pons on July 12, 1812. It is said to be one of 20 comets known to have active cryovolcanoes.
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