'Devil comet' to make its closest approach of Earth later today

The devil comet will make its closest approach of Earth later on Sunday. A report by CNN said that while the comet has not been visible to people in the Northern Hemispheresince the first week of May, those in the Southern Hemispherehave a better chance of visibility. The celestial object only completes one orbit around the sun about every 71 years.

The CNN report said that given the comet, officially calledComet 12P/Pons-Brooks,would notpass by Earth again for decades, observations by astronomers could provide key insights into its true nature and behaviour.

Comet made closest pass of Sun on April 21

The comet had made its closest pass of the Sun on April 21, coming within119.7 million kilometres. Now, the comet will make its closest pass of Earth on Sunday, but it will be more than 230 million kilometresaway from the planetand won’t pose a risk, the report added.

According to astronomer Dr Teddy Kareta,“For folks down below the equator, the coming weeks and months might be their first good chance to see this thing since the 1950s.”

The diameter

Dr Kareta,a postdoctoral associate at Lowell, said that the comet is estimated to be between 10 to 20 kilometres in diameter.

Meanwhile, astronomer DrDave Schleicher told CNN that the comet peaked in brightness in late April and has beensteadily fading for three to four weeks. Dr Schleicher added that this comethas a green appearance typical of most comets because they contain diatomic carbon molecules that absorb sunlight and emit a colour that appears green.

(With inputs from agencies)