A “devil comet” known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is set to make an appearance in Earth’s skies. On April 21, this 10.5-mile-wide comet will reach its closest point to the sun, known as perihelion. This will make it about 144 million miles away from the sun, making it significantly brighter and easier to see, especially in the western sky just after sunset. However, its magnitude of 5.9 may not make it visible to the naked eye, so a telescope, camera, or stargazing binoculars are recommended for viewing.
The best time to see the comet at its brightest will be around April 21 and a few nights before and after. Observers in northern latitudes may have difficulty spotting it due to its position in the glow of the sunset. Comets are typically easiest to see when they are closest to Earth, which will happen in June. However, by then, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
Despite being closest to the sun on April 21, the comet is still quite distant from Earth, making it visible only with the help of binoculars or a telescope. There is a possibility that the comet may have an outburst, as it did in July 2023, when it grew horns, earning it the nickname “devil comet.” Recent observations show that the comet no longer has these horns, possibly due to the loss of ice in its core that made the horns possible.