Now is the time to try to spot Comet Pons-Brooks – nicknamed the Devil Comet – in the evening sky. Look west just after sunset. The comet’s closest approach to the sun (perihelion) is on April 21, at which time it’s located in front of the constellation Taurus. It’ll most likely be too dim to see without optical aid, but who knows? Comets can brighten when nearest the sun.
As the comet moves away from the sun, it will soon drop out of sight from the Northern Hemisphere. But the Southern Hemisphere should be able to see the comet still, heading across the sky toward Orion. It’ll be near Rigel on May 19 and 20.
On June 2, 2024, when the comet is closest to Earth, it will be dimmer because it’s farther from the sun. But you should still be able pick it up in binoculars. On that date, the comet will be in front of Lepus the Hare.
Then Comet Pons-Brooks will head back into the outer solar system, where it will remain until it returns in some 71 years.
Comet Pons-Brooks has had outbursts
As the comet has moved closer to the sun, it’s undergone periodic outbursts.
The first outburst was on July 20, 2023. It brightened from magnitude 16–17 to magnitude 11–12. Astrophotographers caught the comet outburst, which resulted in a peculiar “horned” appearance, like a devil. It resembled the Millennium Falcon of Star Wars.
The comet continued to have outbursts, including on October 5, November 1 and 14 and December 14 and January 18, 2024. Even as recently as early April, it appeared to be in outburst.
If you would like to share a photo you took of Comet Pons-Brooks, send it to us at our Community Photos page.
Comet Pons-Brooks in history
We’ve seen this comet in the past. Jean-Louis Pons and William Robert Brooks both spotted it in the 1800s. The comet now bears the names of those two sky observers.
And even before that, Chinese astronomers observed it as far back as the 1300s.
Comet Pons-Brooks during the eclipse
During the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, the comet was near the sun. While it was too dim to see with the eye alone, some astrophotographers caught it in their images.
Not one, but two comets appeared near the Sun during last week's total solar eclipse. The expected comet was Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, but it was disappointingly dimmer than many had hoped. However, relatively unknown Comet SOHO-5008 also appeared in long duration camera exposures.… pic.twitter.com/P2cG6ikfpK
We’ve been getting amazing images of Comet Pons-Brooks. Do you have one to share? Submit it to us! And check out this dedicated photo gallery of Comet Pons-Brooks images.
A few more images
Bottom line: Comet Pons-Brooks makes its closest pass by the sun on April 21. Look for it after sunset in the west; it will soon slip into southern skies.
Kelly Kizer Whitt - EarthSky’s nature and travel vlogger on YouTube - writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She's been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children's picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.
Like what you read? Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.