JAKARTA – The phenomenon of a total solar eclipse on April 8 2024 will be even more complete with the presence of the devil’s comet which will allegedly appear on the same day.
CometThis giant, known as 12P/Pons-Brooks, is heading towards Earth and could appear very clearly, possibly visible to the naked eye if it erupts before totality – the phase when the Sun is completely obscured.
Measuring 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) wide, the devil’s comet follows an elliptical orbit around the sun every 71 years. Identified as an iceberg comet or cryovolcanic comet, it erupts periodically when solar radiation triggers cracks in its icy skeleton, allowing cryomagma – a mixture of gas and ice – to spew into space.
Reporting from Wion News, Saturday (9/3/2024), the comet’s coma, a cloud of gas and dust covering its core, increased after this eruption, giving the comet a brighter appearance for several days. Last July marked the first eruption of the devil’s comet in 69 years, and it has continued to erupt regularly since then.
Initially, devil comets displayed asymmetry in their elongated coma, resembling horns. This gives the devil’s comet the nickname demonic. But interestingly, the latest eruption of the devil’s comet did not produce such a clear display of asymmetry.
The green light emitted by the comet is associated with high concentrations of dicarbon known as dicarbon in its coma and tail, as new images have shown.
The devil’s comet will likely be visible on April 8, 2024, the same day as solar eclipse total. Skywatchers around the world have been advised to use protective eyewear, such as licensed eclipse glasses, during the partial phase. Looking directly at the Sun during the totality of the eclipse without proper eye protection can cause serious eye damage.
