CNN —An unusual horned comet notable for a series of outbursts, nicknamed the “devil comet,” will make its closest approach of Earth on Sunday around 3 a.m.
Given that the comet won’t pass by Earth again for decades, collective observations by astronomers could provide key insights into its true nature and behavior.
Officially known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, the celestial object made its closest pass of the sun on April 21, coming within 74.4 million miles (119.7 million kilometers) of our star.
The comet will make its closest pass of Earth on Sunday, but it will be more than 143 million miles (230 million kilometers) away from our planet and won’t pose a risk.
An overlapping series of events likely has contributed to Pons-Brooks’ distinctive look, but it could also be due to our perspective of the comet, Kareta said.
Persons:
Pons, Brooks, Gianluca Masi, Dave Schleicher, ”, Teddy Kareta, Jean, Louis Pons, William Robert Brooks, ” Schleicher, Kareta, Schleicher, “, it’s, 12P, Theodore Kareta, ” Kareta
Organizations:
CNN, Northern, Southern, Millennium, “, Telescope, Lowell Observatory, Lowell, Pons, ”, Lowell Discovery Telescope
Locations:
Italy's Tuscany, Arizona, Pons