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Only every 71 years is there a chance to observe the comet Pons-Brooks in the night sky. With a waning moon and a little luck with the weather, the Easter weekend in Austria is a good time for this. It is difficult with the naked eye, but not impossible. Comet expert Michael Jäger recommends the first 90 minutes after sunset as the observation period. The comet will reach its closest point to the sun on April 21, 2024.
Trip to the observatory
If you don’t want to rely on the naked eye or binoculars, you can explore the night sky under professional guidance at the Martinsberg Astronomical Centre, for example.
How the comet got its name
Comet Pons-Brooks was officially discovered on July 12, 1812, by Jean-Louis Pons, a French astronomer who discovered a total of 37 comets. Historical astronomical reports from China dating back to 1385 show that the comet was already recognised and seen as such at that time.
The comet’s orbit
The comet Pons-Brooks can be found in the constellation Aries in the first half of April. On 21 April, the tail star reaches its closest point to the sun (perihelion) at a speed of around 47.1 kilometres per hour. At the end of April, it will be in the constellation Taurus. The closest approach to Earth will take place on June 2, 2024.
- source: kurier.at/picture: pixabay.com
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