Devil Comet makes spectacular return after 7 decades, graces Australian skies
Image of Devil Comet passing across the universe (Representative image)
After a hiatus spanning seven decades, the well-known Devil Comet has made its grand reappearance in the night sky above Australia.
The devil comet is dubbed as 12P/Pons-Brooks, a periodic comet in our solar system that was discovered independently by astronomers Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks. The designation "12P" indicates that it was the 12th periodic comet to be discovered.
This comet follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun, and it has a periodicity of about 71.5 years. Its last perihelion passage (closest approach to the Sun) occurred in 2018.
Comet Pons-Brooks is part of the Jupiter family of comets. This means its orbit is influenced by Jupiter's gravity. When it approaches the inner solar system, it can become visible from Earth, sometimes even with the naked eye, depending on its brightness and proximity to our planet.
Also Read |Hubble's latest marvel: Twin Jet Nebula stuns everyone!
Like many comets, 12P/Pons-Brooks consists of ice, dust, and rocky material. As it gets closer to the Sun during its orbit, the heat causes the ice to vaporise, creating a glowing coma (the comet's atmosphere) and a tail that points away from the Sun due to the solar wind.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Half-tank rule’: Does keeping your fuel tank full improve mileage?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Automatic cars vs manuals’: Which uses more fuel?
)
Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar trending #1 in Pakistan? Netflix crashes minutes after release, claim social media user
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Flight Deck Boots': Why USS Abraham Lincoln sailors wear extremely heavy shoes
)
Netherlands to return 11th-century Chola copper plates to India during PM Modi’s visit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Hydraulic Arms': How the USS Abraham Lincoln pops up its emergency net
)
Antarctic cosmic dust proves Earth has been traversing through supernova debris for 80,000 years
)
Eight killed, 32 injured as freight train hits bus at rail crossing in Bangkok
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Robotic warfare’: How the Chengdu J-20 can rewrite the rules of aerial combat
)
Fact check: Trump caught on video taking a sneak peek at Xi Jinping’s private notebook? Clip goes viral | WATCH
)
'The sofa was clearly higher': Here's how social media reacted to Trump-Xi viral video
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Night Vision': Why the USS Abraham Lincoln bans white flashlights on deck
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top 7 most economically stable countries in world: India & Pakistan ranking will surprise you
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters fastest to 14,000 T20 runs
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Ghost Targets': How the USS Abraham Lincoln creates fake ships on enemy radar
)
Andhra CM offers cash incentives of ₹30,000 for 3rd child, ₹40,000 for 4th to reverse declining population trend
)
Bermuda Triangle Mystery 'Solved': Scientists REVEAL Structure Found Beneath Island
)
Watch | Thousands of bees ‘invade’ Trump's White House; spark ‘biblical plague’ buzz online: 'BLASPHEMERS will be dealt with - most definitely!'
)
'Will not act until divorce': Ravi Mohan makes shocking announcement after Keneeshaa Francis quits social media
)
‘Prepare for battle of Britain’: Tommy Robinson tells tens of thousands at London rally
)
Jana Nayagan release: CM Vijay takes action, asks producer to return from Cannes
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How much fuel do frequent gear changes really waste?
)
From weapons to wheels: Sweden’s deepening ‘Make in India’ partnership
)
Trump in bonkers boast reveals he told Xi 'we spy like hell on China'
)
Cannes Film Festival 2026: Aditi Rao Hydari stuns at the red carpet in elegant green gown | See pics
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Does parking in the shade prevent fuel evaporation in the summer?
)
Noida protest accused was transferred Rs 1 crore in foreign currency to his bank account
)
Jana Nayagan on OTT: Vijay’s victory renews interest in his film, streaming platforms compete to get digital rights
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘No need to worry about fuel price hikes’: 5 fuel-efficient cars that can save you money
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Does cruise control really save fuel?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
What is the ideal car speed for maximum fuel savings?
)
Media house forced to delete story after PM Modi fact-checks misleading report on X: 'Totally false'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Sleep Deprived': How the USS Abraham Lincoln crew survives endless night operations
)
Five Italian divers killed in Maldives cave tragedy after scuba expedition turns deadly
)
India restricts import of two types of silver bars with immediate effect
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Petrol vs diesel: Which car engine really saves more money in daily driving?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Indian rupee becomes Asia’s worst-performing currency- Who else is on the list?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Indians at Cannes 2026: Alia Bhatt, Urvashi Rautela, Huma Qureshi and others stun on the global red carpet
Also Read |Garbage to fuel aviation of future? Researchers show way for sustainable skies
Measuring nearly 34 kilometres in diametre at its core, this comet, characterised by its hue, is sometimes compared with Halley's comet.
Spotting the comet
Astrophysicist Brad Tucker of the Australian National University reportedly noted the current challenge in spotting the Devil comet. He anticipates its visibility to improve gradually over the next week as it approaches the sun, reaching its pinnacle brightness on April 22.
Watch | Study says climate change to shrink global GDP by $38 trillion by 2050
As the comet journeys closer to the sun, its cryovolcanic nature becomes apparent, spewing water vapour and other materials from its core. This activity, alongside its diatomic carbon composition, contributes to its unique greenish hue. Comets like these are now understood as remnants from the dawn of the solar system, composed of ice and dirt, often referred to as "dirty snowballs."
(With inputs from agencies)