Opportunity of a Lifetime, Comet "Satan" 12P/Pons-Brooks Approaches the Sun
Comet "devil" 12P/Pons-Brooks near the Sun, Sunday (21/4/2024). This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see it.
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Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks or Devil's Comet
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks or popularly known as the "devil" comet will reach its closest distance to the Sun on Sunday (21/4/2024). For comet hunters and fans, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness a comet that only visits the Sun once every 71 years.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is not a new comet. Although the first identification of this comet was only made in 1812, various historical sources have mentioned the presence of this comet since 245. The last time it visited the Sun was in 1954 and it will visit the Sun again in 2095.
This comet is quite well-known among humans due to its bright light and sudden changes in brightness. These changes make the comet appear alternately brighter and dimmer, not only bringing beauty but also mystery.
The presence of the Pons-Brook comet was first detected by astronomers at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, United States on June 10, 2020. At that time, the comet was outside the orbit of Saturn at a distance of 11.9 astronomical units (the average distance between the Sun and Earth is about 150 million kilometers) and had a brightness level or magnitude of 23.
Also read: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and Messenger from the Edge of the Solar System
On July 20, 2023, when the comet was at a distance of 3.9 astronomical units, it suddenly exploded, becoming 100 times brighter, from magnitude 16-17 to magnitude 11-12 (the smaller magnitude means brighter). This explosion released around 10 billion kilograms of dust and ice into space.
The explosion also caused the comet's core, which is about 30 km wide, to expand and form a gas shell resembling a horseshoe. However, some people perceive the shape of the horseshoe more closely to resemble that of a devil's horn, so since then the comet has been better known as the "devil" comet.
While continuing its journey closer to the Sun, this comet has exploded at least five times until January 2024. The cause of these explosions is not yet known for certain. However, as quoted from Space, April 17 2024, the explosion most likely came from ice volcanic activity on the comet.
Javanese people refer to comets as latitude cubes and their appearance is a bad omen, aka the bearer of ontran-ontran.
Richard Miles from the British Astronomical Association (BAA) said that comet Pons-Brooks belongs to the group of cryovolcanic comets or comets that have icebergs. It is estimated that there are around 10-20 comets that have active icebergs. Apart from comets, active icebergs can also be found on other icy objects in the Solar System, such as satellites of giant planets, asteroids, and possibly also on dwarf planets.
The iceberg contains "magma" that contains a mixture of cold liquid hydrocarbons and dissolved gases. This mixture of liquid and gas is trapped below the layer of the iceberg which has a consistency like wax. When hot sunlight can penetrate through the layer of the iceberg, an explosion will occur because the content of the "magma" is made up of easily evaporating substances.
Arrive at destination
On Sunday (21/4/2024), the journey of the Pons-Brooks comet will reach its final destination, which is the Sun. It will be in its closest distance to the Sun, or perihelion, at a distance of 117 million km or 240 million km from Earth. After that, the comet will end its pilgrimage to the Sun and return to its home which is located 33.62 astronomical units away, slightly farther than the orbit of the planet Neptune.
"This comet can be seen from Indonesia from the end of March 2024 until the end of May 2024," said Aditya Abdilah Yusuf, a technician at the Center for Astronomy Observatory of the Institute of Technology Sumatera Lampung (OAIL). However, the peak of the comet's brightness or its brightest condition will occur around April 20, 2024.
The image of the "devil" comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, captured by Aditya A Yusuf from the Sumatera Lampung Institute of Technology Astronomical Observatory Center (OAIL) on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 6:45-7:00 PM WIB using robotic telescope assistance. The comet will reach its closest distance to the sun on Sunday (21/4/2024).
The presence of Pons-Brooks comet near the Sun will provide a stunning spectacle for observers on Earth. This comet can be observed shortly after sunset for a relatively short period of time, about an hour before eventually following the Sun in setting.
A comet will be visible glowing in green. If lucky, two comets emitting beams will be seen moving away from the Sun, namely the tail of dust that follows the comet's movement around the Sun and the ion tail whose direction will always be opposite to the position of the Sun. The ion tail contains many charged particles, causing its movement direction to always move away from the Sun.
In the photography of the Pons-Brooks comet carried out by Aditya A Yusuf from the Observatory Center of the Lampung Institute of Technology (OAIL) on Monday (15/4/2024), the comet's tail was not very visible. Thin clouds to the west made the captured image of the comet more dominant on the core part of the comet only.
For the next few days, the position of the comet will be located to the north of the Sun or to the south of the planet Jupiter. Therefore, to make it easier to search, first look for the presence of Jupiter, which is relatively easy to recognize because it is bright enough. However, after reaching perihelion later, the position of the comet will be located to the south of the Sun.
Astronomy communicator and founder of Langitselatan, Avivah Yamani, added that from early April 2024 until the comet is closest to the Sun, the brightness of the comet ranges from 4.7 to 5.5 magnitudes. This means that the comet can actually be observed with the naked eye.
The trajectory of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is approaching the Sun. This comet will reach its closest distance to the Sun on Sunday (4/21/2024) at a distance of 0.78 astronomical units (AU/average distance between Earth and the Sun is around 150 million kilometers). This comet has an orbit period of 71.3 years and its farthest distance is at 33.62 AU.
The problem is that the height of the comet is very low, around 10 degrees, because the comet is currently near the sun. "The newly set sun will leave behind bright twilight and cover the dimmer light of the comet," said Avivah. However, when the glare of the twilight has disappeared, the position of the comet has become lower, thus making it difficult to observe.
Hence, observing the Pons-Brooks comet requires binoculars or a small telescope. The comet can be observed with the naked eye if the sky around the horizon is completely clear of clouds, free from light pollution, and of course, not cloudy let alone rainy.
Culture
This comet was first scientifically recorded by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons (1761-1831) using his own telescope on July 12, 1812. At the time of detection, the comet did not have a tail. A month later, the comet reached its maximum brightness, having two tails, and could be observed with the naked eye. Based on calculations, the period of the comet, or the time it takes for the comet to orbit the Sun once, is 65-75 years.
Next, American-British comet observer William R. Brooks (1844-1921) accidentally observed a comet on September 2, 1883. Through calculations of the orbit period, it was then realized that the comet was the same one discovered by Pons 71 years prior. Thus, the comet was named Pons-Brooks.
With an orbital period of approximately 71 years, the Pons-Brooks comet falls under the category of Halley-type comets, a group of comets with orbital periods between 20-200 years that can only be seen by humans once in a lifetime. Other comets with the same type include 13P/Olbers, 23P/Brosen-Metcalf, and of course the most famous one, 1P/Halley.
Also read: Comet Hale-Bopp, Tragic Beauty
Comet Pons-Brooks, as written by guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium, New York, USA Joe Rao in Space, is coded 12P as an indication that this is the 12th comet whose orbital period has been calculated. Thus, the full name of this comet is comet 12P/Pons-Brooks.
Although the first scientific record recognized about Pons-Brooks comet is the result of Pons and Brooks' observations, long before that there were many historical sources in various cultures that told stories about this comet.
German astronomer Maik Meyer's tracking in 2020 discovered that a comet observed with the naked eye during China's Ming Dynasty in November 1385, as well as other records in China dated to 245, were Pons-Brooks comets. Similarly, the comet noted by Italian astronomer Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli in January 1457.
In many cultures, including American society, the appearance of a comet is often considered a harbinger of bad luck, triggering fear, suspicion, and superstition. The emergence of these negative emotions blends with a curiosity and admiration for the beauty of the comet's tail appearance.
Halley's Comet was seen in 1986. This comet was also seen in 11 BC.
"Comets have a long history, generally seen as signs and bearers of bad news," said Woody Sullivan, an astronomy professor as quoted on the University of Washington's website in Seattle, USA, on March 24, 1997. Even Pope Callixtus III once referred to Halley's Comet, which appeared in 1456, as a tool sent by the devil.
The Inca nation's astrologers referred to the appearance of a comet as a sign of the gods' wrath, which led to the fall of the Inca kingdom into the hands of Spain. Halley's comet's appearance in 1835-1836 was also considered the trigger for a large fire in New York, USA, the massacre of the Boer tribe in South Africa, and the slaughter of people in Texas by Mexico.
In Indonesia, Javanese people refer to comets as latitude cubes and their appearance is a bad omen, aka the bearer of ontran-ontran. The appearance of comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas in April 2020 was considered a sign of the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic which forced people to stay at home and limit activities.
The appearance of comet C/1965 S1 Ikeya-Seki is often linked to the tragedy of G30 S which claimed many victims, while comet C/1969 Y1 Bennett is linked to the death of Indonesian Proclamation Father, Soekarno, in 1970.
It is the comet element that is thought to have triggered the emergence of life on Earth.
However, this presumption is actually more related to whoever interprets the presence of the comet. The appearance of the comet in 44 BC was considered a sign of glory for the death of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. The comet was also seen as a good omen as its presence marked the victories of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in several wars.
The belief still exists up to this day, although not as strong as in the past. However, comets are merely objects in the Solar System that visit the Sun periodically. They can originate from around the orbit of Jupiter, the Kuiper Belt located beyond the orbit of Neptune, the Oort Cloud that envelops the outer part of the Solar System, and even from beyond the Solar System.
Aditya stated that the approach of the comet to the Sun does not actually have a significant impact on Earth due to its considerable distance. However, the comet's approach to the Sun is a good moment for scientists and the general public to understand the details of the comet.
The comet Atlas C/2019 Y4 appeared green in color and was captured from New Mexico, United States on March 18, 2020. At the bottom right, two galaxies in interaction can be seen, namely the M81 and M82 galaxies.
"Astronomers can recalculate the path of comets, understand the impact of gas bursts from the comet's core on its orbit changes, and perform spectroscopy on the tail and core of the comet to determine the basic elements that make up the comet," he said. These comet elements are believed to trigger the emergence of life on Earth.
Meanwhile, for the general public, the appearance of a comet not only provides a beautiful sky view but also an additional opportunity to learn about comets, add to their collection of comet photographs, and to capture the moment of the arrival of comets with long orbit periods that can only be observed once in a lifetime. The appearance of comets can become a media for society to learn more about astronomy and its surrounding environment.
Therefore, the presence of a comet does not need to be feared. Simply enjoy its beauty and get to know its ins and outs. This is a good opportunity to continue sharpening our reasoning and maintaining emotional sensitivity. Happy hunting for the beauty of the "devil" comet!
