Astrophotographer and comet-chaser José J. Chambó has captured a spectacular image of Comet 12P Pons-Brooks, giving a hint of what we can expect from the icy celestial visitor over the coming weeks.
Comet 12P Pons-Brooks is one of the brightest known periodic comets and is one among a collection of bright comets visible in 2024.
Many will remember the stir Pons-Brooks caused in July 2023 when it brightened and transformed, forming twin 'horns' that led it to be dubbed the 'Devil Comet' online.
Throughout March and April 2024, the comet will pass from the constellation Andromeda into Aries, when it will begin to approach Jupiter in the night sky.
But many astrophotographers are already out there capturing the comet, including José J. Chambó whose work, if you are a comet-chaser, will likely be familiar to you.
Read our guide on how to photograph a comet
José captured this image on 3 February 2024 at 18:57 UT from Vallés, Valencia, Spain.
He says: "Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks on February 3, 2024, is brightening up to magnitude +7.8, with a coma of 11' in angular size showing an intense central condensation.
"Two tails are noticeable: the dust tail extends faint towards the upper right, and the ion tail towards the upper left passing close to the magnitude 5 star 72 Cygni.
"The comet is still positioned above the Milky Way in the constellation Cygnus."
See more of José's work via his Astrobin page
Acquisition details:
- Camera: Atik 383L+
- Telescope: TS-Photon 8" N f/3.6
- Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro
- Exposure: 36 min. (L=33x60 bin1 + RGB=1x60 bin2)
- Processing: PixInsight
Have you managed to capture an image of Comet Pons-Brooks? Don't forget to send us your images. We'd love to see them!
