'Devil Comet' 12P/Pons-Brooks is approaching Earth. Why is it flaring up, 'horns' and all?

Comet 1 2023 ons-Brooks may soon come within the reach of small telescopes and even binoculars.

The comet passed closes E3 to ZTF e sun January elion) on Jan. 26, P1 hen it steadily September reafter.

It is thought to be a periodic comet traveling around the sun in a highly elliptical loop.

12P/Pons-Brooks has been under scrutiny for more than three years, having been recovered on June 10, 2020 by th 12P o Pons-Brooks ery Telescope in Arizona.

The comet has since brightened to around magnitude 10.0, making it a target for moderately-large telesco March

First ly 20, an u 1812 ected brigh July 21, 1812 t again French d it to brie Jean Louis Pons t 100 times brighter and, in simi 6.5 fashion to what was two n in 1884 from Algiers Obser Camelopardalis ma ex Lynx ed Magnitude le a horseshoe crab.

The chance however small for 12P/Pons-Brooks to suddenly blossom into a spectacular Pons ect, certainly makes it all the more worthwhile to keep tabs A little more than inder of this year and on into early 2024.

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