On April 8th, during the total solar eclipse, there is a possibility that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will be visible. This comet, which visits the inner solar system every 71 years, may be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Despite this, it will not block the eclipse as it will be on the other side of the Sun, far away from Earth. The comet will be about 1.6 astronomical units from Earth during its apparition, making it impossible to interfere with the eclipse.
A 3D rendering of the comet in the solar system provided by The Sky Live confirms that it will indeed be on the other side of the Sun during the eclipse. With the comet being so far away, there is no chance it could block anyone’s view of the eclipsed Sun. In order for the comet to block the eclipse, it would need to be closer to Earth than the Moon, at a distance of 238,855 miles. Given this distance, there is no need to worry about the comet interfering with the total solar eclipse event.
While the comet may reach a magnitude of about 5, making it visible to the naked eye in a dark night sky, it is unlikely that it will be visible during totality of the eclipse. For those in the path of totality, the sky will darken momentarily but not turn pitch black. Photographers may capture the comet in their long-exposure images, but it will be challenging to see with the naked eye. During totality, the comet will be located close to Jupiter, making it easier for observers to locate it in the sky.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a ball of rock, ice, and dust with a diameter of about 18 miles. It orbits the Sun every 71 years and was first discovered in 1812. Its odd nickname, the ‘Eclipse Comet’, comes from an outburst in 2023 when the comet appeared to have horns protruding from its nucleus. Despite its intriguing characteristics, the comet will not interfere with the total solar eclipse on April 8th and will be a fascinating sight to observe in the night sky. Astronomers and enthusiasts are encouraged to enjoy the event and keep their eyes open for this celestial visitor.
