Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have documented an important celestial event from the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh. Utilizing the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), astronomers captured images of Comet P12/Pons-Brooks, usually known as the 'Devil Comet'.
First identified in 1812, this comet follows a 71-year orbit around the Sun. Recent observations have highlighted its intensified activity, marked by multiple outbursts of gas and dust leading to a substantial increase in brightness.
Photo: IIA
The composite image, created from individual exposures using three different colour filters, showcases the comet's swift movement across the sky, causing stars to appear displaced and tinted by the respective filter colours.
Photo: IIA
Dominating the photograph is a luminous arc, representing an outburst from the comet's coma, while below it lies a dark lane, casting the shadow of the comet's nucleus on surrounding gas. The comet's expansive atmosphere, visible as a spherical halo, spans an impressive 3,50,000 kilometres in diameter.
Photo: IIA
Margarita Safonova, an IIA astronomer, highlighted the comet's dynamic nature, noting four significant outbursts since July, releasing billions of kilograms of material and causing a nearly hundredfold increase in brightness.
The most recent burst of activity on November 14 is attributed to solar heating, causing subterranean gas to erupt through the comet's icy surface.
Comet P12/Pons-Brooks will approach its closest point to the Sun on April 21, 2024, and its nearest approach to Earth on June 2, 2024. It is expected to be just 1.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, potentially visible to the naked eye or through binoculars and small telescopes.
The observations provide valuable scientific insights into the behaviour of comets, shedding light on their volatile and dynamic characteristics.
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, leading reasearcher at IIA, highlighted universal fascination with comets and the institute's dedication to documenting and sharing this celestial journey for public viewing.