Scientists are reporting an apocalyptic event that could be the size of a small city heading towards Earth. A “horned” comet three times bigger than Mount Everest had erupted and is hurtling towards our planet. The comet, known as 12P/ Pons-Brooks, measures a colossal 18.6 miles in diameter, making it the size of a small city. This explosion occurred on October 5th and is the second eruption that has happened in the last four months. The first occurred in July, and experts believe this is due to a buildup of gas and ice within the comet.
The British Astronomical Association has been closely monitoring 12P and has noticed that it has become much brighter due to the light reflected by its coma, which is the cloud of gas surrounding its center. Not only has the comet become significantly brighter, but it has also developed what appears to be “horns” on its surface. Experts are unsure of the cause of these horns, but it could be due to the shape of the comet’s nucleus.
Richard Miles from the British Astronomical Association believes that these horns may be caused by a “peculiarly-shaped cryovolcanic vent with some sort of blockage, causing material to be expelled with a weird flow pattern.” The appearance of the horns has been compared to both Satan and the Star Wars spaceship, the Millennium Falcon. Regardless of the cause, this is a unique and rare occurrence that has captured the attention of scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
This is not the first time that 12P has had an eruption. In fact, it has a history of volcanic activity, with 20 known active ice volcanoes. The last time an eruption occurred was in 1880, making this event quite significant. However, experts do not believe there is a need to panic just yet. 12P will not reach its closest point to Earth until 2024, and even then, it will not be a threat. After that, it will be catapulted back into the solar system and will not make its return until the year 2095.
Similar to other active comets, such as 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, 12P is expected to continue to erupt in the future. The last eruption from 29P occurred in December of last year, where it released approximately 1 million tons of cryomagma into space, marking its largest eruption in 12 years. This suggests that 12P may also have future eruptions, attracting more interest from scientists and the general public.
12P has been observed since its discovery by Jean-Louis Pons in 1812. Now, with this recent eruption and the development of its horn-like features, it has become a popular subject for observation and study. Scientists are eager to learn more about this comet and its unusual volcanic activity. With its next eruption projected to occur in 2024, there is plenty of time for further research and discoveries.
In conclusion, a “horned” comet, three times bigger than Mount Everest, has erupted and is heading towards Earth. This event is rare, but not necessarily a cause for concern. Scientists are closely monitoring this comet and have observed the development of unusual horn-like features. With its long history of active volcanism, it is expected that 12P will continue to erupt in the future, making it an intriguing and exciting subject for further study.
