Two Approaching Comets: Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and the 'Devil's Comet' 12P/Pons-Brooks in June 2024

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Both comets offer unique opportunities for observation and study.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the 'Devil Comet', has a distinctive horned appearance and will make its closest pass of Earth on June 2, 2024. It does not pose a threat to Earth during its closest approach.
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is currently in the constellation of Apus and will make its closest approach to Earth on January 14, 2025. Its estimated magnitude is currently at 17.73 (JPL).
Two comets, Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, will approach Earth in June 2024.
Two Approaching Comets: Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and the 'Devil's Comet' 12P/Pons-Brooks in June 2024

Two comets, Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, are making notable approaches to Earth in June 2024. While the former is currently in the constellation of Apus and poses no threat to Earth during its closest approach on January 14, 2025, the latter, also known as the 'Devil Comet,' will make its closest pass of Earth on Sunday, June 2.

Discovered independently by Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks in the early 19th and late 19th centuries respectively, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has a distinctive horned appearance during outbursts. Despite its nickname, it does not pose a threat to Earth during its closest approach.

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), on the other hand, is currently in the constellation of Apus and at a distance of approximately 502 million kilometers from Earth. Its Right Ascension is 14h 21m 46s, and its Declination is -79 degrees. The estimated magnitude of this comet is currently at 17.73 (JPL).

The closest approach of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) to Earth will occur on January 14, 2025, when it will be at a distance of approximately 0.938 Astronomical Units or about 140 million kilometers from Earth.

Both comets offer unique opportunities for observation and study. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks may be visible with binoculars or a small telescope during twilight hours. Recent outbursts of this comet have been attributed to the release of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide due to heating from the sun.

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), while not making a close approach to Earth in June, is still an interesting object for observation. Its orbital eccentricity is 1.00031716 and its inclination is 117.01759 degrees.

It's important to note that while these comets are intriguing celestial bodies, they do not pose any threat to Earth during their respective approaches.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the ‘devil comet’, will make its closest approach of Earth on Sunday around 3 a.m. ET.
    • The comet has a green appearance due to diatomic carbon molecules that absorb sunlight and emit a color that appears green from our perspective.
  • Accuracy
    • Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will make its closest approach of Earth on Sunday around 3 a.m. ET.
    • The comet was discovered in 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons and rediscovered in 1883 by William Brooks
    • The comet is estimated to be between 6.2 to 12.4 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) in diameter.
    • Comets are chunks of dust, rock and ice that heat up and brighten as they approach the sun.
    • Pons-Brooks has a rotation period of 57 hours.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes several scientific statements that are accurate and do not contain any logical fallacies. However, there is one instance of an appeal to authority when the authors quote astronomers Dr. Dave Schleicher and Dr. Teddy Kareta to support their claims about the comet's behavior and appearance.
    • The comet peaked in brightness in late April and has been steadily fading for three to four weeks, said Dr. Dave Schleicher, astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona.
    • Two prolific discoverers, Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks, independently observed the devil comet – Pons in 1812 and Brooks in 1883.
    • Astronomers estimate the massive comet to be between 6.2 to 12.4 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) in diameter, Kareta said.
    • Comets are chunks of dust, rock and ice, essentially frozen remnants from the formation of the solar system.
    • We think the ultimate driver, of course, is heating from the sun.
    • Scientists have traced the jets of material observed releasing from the comet during its outburst to two source regions on its surface.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

  • Unique Points
    • Comet Pons-Brooks was discovered in 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons and rediscovered in 1883 by William Brooks.
    • Pons-Brooks is one of the brightest periodic comets in our solar system and has a horseshoe-shaped tail that some describe as 'horns'
  • Accuracy
    • Comet Pons-Brooks will make its closest pass by Earth on June 2, 2024
    • The comet was discovered in 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons and rediscovered in 1883 by William Brooks
    • Pons-Brooks is one of the brightest periodic comets in our solar system and has a horseshoe-shaped tail that some describe as ‘horns’
    • At its closest approach to Earth, Pons-Brooks will be roughly 143 million miles away
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes several statements that are not fallacies but rather informative. However, there is one instance of an appeal to authority when the author mentions Jean-Louis Pons being considered the best visual comet discoverer in history and William Brooks doing the precise calculations to determine it was the same comet. This does not affect the overall score significantly as it is a minor fallacy and does not detract from understanding or misrepresenting facts.
    • Jean-Louis Pons, a French astronomer considered to be the best visual comet discoverer in history.
    • They didn't realize it was the same comet until Brooks did the orbital math, and since he was the first to do the precise calculations, the comet gets his name, too.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks made its closest pass of the Sun on April 21, coming within 119.7 million kilometres.
    • The comet will make its closest pass of Earth on Sunday, but it will be more than 230 million kilometres away from the planet and won’t pose a risk.
    • The comet is estimated to be between 10 to 20 kilometres in diameter.
    • Dr Teddy Kareta estimates that for folks in the Southern Hemisphere, this might be their first good chance to see the comet since the 1950s.
  • Accuracy
    • Pons-Brooks is estimated to be between 10 to 20 kilometres in diameter.
    • The comet has a green appearance typical of most comets due to diatomic carbon molecules that absorb sunlight and emit a colour that appears green.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks was discovered independently by Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks in the early 19th and late 19th centuries respectively.
    • The comet has a distinctive horned appearance during outbursts, earning it the nickname ‘Devil Comet’.
    • Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks poses no threat to Earth during its closest approach in June 2024.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is currently in the constellation of Apus, at a distance of 502,508,172 kilometers from Earth.
    • The current Right Ascension of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is 14h 21m 46s and the Declination is -79° 05' 31″.
    • The current estimated magnitude of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is 17.73 (JPL).
    • Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2099, the closest approach of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) to Earth happens on Tue Jan 14 2025 at a distance of 0.938472 Astronomical Units, or 140,393,440 kilometers.
    • The orbital eccentricity of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is 1.00031716 and its inclination is 117.0175919 degrees.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication