Stunning images of Devil’s Horn comet
Astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have captured mesmerizing images of a uniquely shaped comet using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Ladakh.
P12/Pons-Brooks, discovered nearly two centuries ago, is a brilliantly shining periodic comet with a 71-year orbit. Currently traversing the outer reaches of the Solar System, it is expected to make its closest approach to Earth in June next year. The images were taken by the two-meter-long telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) atop Mt. Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri in Hanle, situated at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet. This telescope is remotely operated from the institute’s CREST Campus in Hosakote, Karnataka.
As comets approach the Sun, they emit jets of gas and dust, creating spectacular events visible to large telescopes. The pictures taken on the night of November 21 reveal a bright arc on the top right, indicating a significant outburst from the comet’s center. A darker lane below represents the shadow cast by the comet’s nucleus on the surrounding gas. The spherical atmosphere around the center measures about 3.5 lakh km in diameter.
Margarita Safonova, an astronomer at IIA, explained, “The comet has had four outbursts already since July, each of which released a few billion kg of gas and dust from inside its surface and made it briefly brighten by almost 100 times.” The most recent outburst occurred on November 14 and is believed to result from eruptions of built-up gas due to sunlight heating the icy crust.
This comet, often referred to as the ‘Devil Comet’ or the ‘Millennium Falcon’ due to its peculiar shape, has garnered global attention. The images produced by the Hanle observatory overlay individual exposures using three different color filters to capture the comet’s rapid movement across the sky.
The comet is expected to become even brighter in the coming months and might be visible to the naked eye next year before returning to the outer solar system for the next 71 years. Its closest approach to the Sun is anticipated on April 21, 2024, and the closest approach to Earth on June 2, 2024, when it will be 1.5 times the Earth-Sun distance away. Scientists are optimistic that the comet will be easily observable with small telescopes, binoculars, or even the naked eye during this period.
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, heading the outreach section at IIA, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Comets always hold great fascination for all of us, and we will photograph this comet with our telescopes in the coming months to share its journey with everyone.”
