The "Star Wars" comet is a memorable comet for astronomers because of its shape, and it's now expected to be visible during a full solar eclipse in April 2024. As such, scientists have noticed it getting brighter and "growing horns" after the comet experienced a major volcanic eruption.
Cryovolcanic Comet
According to Live Science, the comet, described as an "exploding comet," goes by the name 12P/Pons-Brooks but is also known as the "Star Wars" comet due to its resemblance to the Millennium Falcon. The comet is expected to reach its closest point to Earth for the first time in 71 years.
The report described it as an "unusual volcanic comet" and although it was shining like a small star and spewed supercold "magma," it has yet again erupted after almost 70 years. The comet is considered cryovolcanic.
Forbes describes cryovolcanoes as ice volcanoes and their similarities to conventional volcanoes on earth. These volcanoes rise above the landscape and when active, spew liquid contents.
Live Science reports that, like other comets, the 12P/Pons-Brooks had icy objects with a solid nucleus. The solid part of the icy objects were formed due to a mixture of ice, dust, and gas, and are often surrounded by a cloud of gas.
The gas and ice inside the "Star Wars" comet reportedly built up until the point of explosion, which resulted in cryomagma released into space. On July 20, Spaceweather.com reported multiple astronomers sighting outbursts from the comet.
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12P/Pons-Brooks Explosion
The "Star Wars" comet was spotted by multiple scientists as it suddenly became 100x brighter. The increased brightness happened as more gas and ice crystals swelled and sped out from inside of the comet.
Live Science reports that this resulted in more sunlight being reflected back to Earth as the comet also started growing in size. Cryovolcanic comet specialist and astronomer, Richard Miles of the British Astronomical Association emailed Live Science to give an update regarding the comet's size.
On July 26, Miles reported that the comet swelled to around 143,000 miles, which was 7,000x the size of its nucleus. The comet's nucleus is only estimated to be 18.6 miles in diameter, far from how big it was estimated to be.
Transformation of the Comet
Due to the recent volcanic eruptions, the comet has taken a new shape to be more coma-like in appearance, closely resembling the Millennium Falcon. The irregularity in shape was mostly due to the outflowing gas, which expanded the coma, leaving a shadow to become more noticeable.
The comet is expected to result in a full solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, when the Sun would be blotted out and darkness will happen during the day.
On April 21, 2024, it's also expected to reach its closest point to the Sun.
RELATED ARTICLE: 'Star Wars Comet' 12 P/Pons-Brook Is Scheduled for a Total Solar Eclipse After Its 71-Year Orbit
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