Look up! Coloradans are getting the chance to witness two rare events in the sky during April of 2024. A total solar eclipse on April 8 will also display the 12P/Pons-Brooks comet which comes around only approximately every 71 years.
Comet Pons-Brooks is a Halleytype comet first observed in 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons and again in 1883 by William Robert Brooks.
The comet is also known as the “Devil Comet” due to outbursts from the comet that appear like horns around it. According to Space.com, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is about 18 miles in diameter or roughly three times the size of Mount Everest.
Astronomers are cautiously discussing the visibility of the comet during the eclipse because seeing it may be difficult, especially with the naked eye at that time. As the comet gets closer to the Sun, which it will be closest to on April 21, 2024, it will be easier to see with the naked eye.
“Although it is always difficult to predict the future brightness of comets, Comet Pons-Brook has been particularly prone to outbursts, making it even more difficult to predict how bright it will be as the Moon moves in front of the Sun on April 8,” NASA said.
When the moon completely covers the sun, the green-tinged comet may be visible.
The solar eclipse will cover a dozen states as it travels the path from Texas to Maine on the afternoon of April 8. A total eclipse occurs when the moon appears the same size as the sun and blocks the entire disk, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge people along this narrow path into near darkness. People outside the path of totality can use eclipse glasses to see the moon pass in front of the sun. The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. Central time and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. Eastern time.
In Colorado, it should be visible starting at 11:18 a.m. and ending at 1:59 p.m. with a max partial eclipse around 12:30 p.m.
