12P Pons-Brooks (2024)

12P/Pons–Brooks is a periodic comet, meaning it has a regular orbit and returns on a predictable schedule. The orbit for 12P is 71 years. When comets return within two centuries, they are referred to as “Halley-type” comets. 12P is a very bright comet. It was independently “discovered” in 1812 and 1813 by Jean-Louis Pons, a French astronomer and comet hunter, and William Robert Brooks, an American comet-chaser (British-born). They were both the most prolific comet discoverers of all time. Pons discovered 37 in his lifetime and Brooks discovered 27.

A crescent-like appearance of the nucleus, giving the impression of two horns, earned 12P the nickname, “the Devil Comet.”

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Images

Nominated for top pick at AstroBin. On Saturday, March 16th, I experienced an amazing moment as the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks threaded the needle between M33: the Triangulum galaxy and M31: the Andromeda galaxy. As the trio descended slowly towards the Pacific Ocean, the International Space Station (ISS) flew overhead. M45: the Pleiades dangles like a diamond necklace above the brilliant disc of the planet Jupiter. This 20mm shot captured the scene at exactly 9:03pm. At the bottom, you can see the sand of Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon, USA as it stretches to the water. In the distance, a boat shines with a red glow and the lighthouse casts the beam of its beacon through a lower-lying layer of fog. I used a set of 20mm exposures to frame the scene and stacked 10 50mm photographs of the comet and galaxies to boost the resolution.

The Galactic Menagerie of Comets, Galaxies and Things

Nominated for top pick at AstroBin. On Saturday, March 16th, I experienced an amazing moment as the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks threaded the needle between M33: the Triangulum galaxy and M31: the Andromeda galaxy. As the trio descended slowly towards the Pacific Ocean, the International Space Station (ISS) flew overhead. M45: the Pleiades dangles like a diamond necklace above the brilliant disc of the planet Jupiter. This 20mm shot captured the scene at exactly 9:03pm. At the bottom, you can see the sand of Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon, USA as it stretches to the water. In the distance, a boat shines with a red glow and the lighthouse casts the beam of its beacon through a lower-lying layer of fog. I used a set of 20mm exposures to frame the scene and stacked 10 50mm photographs of the comet and galaxies to boost the resolution.

2024-03-18

The periodic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks appears in the sky between the M33: Triangulum and M31: Andromeda galaxies.

Thread the Needle

The periodic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks appears in the sky between the M33: Triangulum and M31: Andromeda galaxies.

2024-03-18

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Videos

On March 16th, 2024. I headed to Agate Beach with my wife on a mission: to capture a comet as it threaded the needled between two galaxies as it set over the ocean by a lighthouse. Oh, and the International Space Station. See how I planned it, the gear I used, my set up, and what it ultimately produced.

Comet chasing: 12P/Pons-Brooks (2024) from Newport Oregon

On March 16th, 2024. I headed to Agate Beach with my wife on a mission: to capture a comet as it threaded the needled between two galaxies as it set over the ocean by a lighthouse. Oh, and the International Space Station. See how I planned it, the gear I used, my set up, and what it ultimately produced.

2024-03-20 00:00:00 +0000

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