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During totality, you may be able to spot a comet along with four planets, if you’re lucky.
WASHINGTON — A rare comet, known for its “horned” shape, could make an appearance during the total solar eclipse on Monday.
The rare cosmic collaboration is happening because the comet, formally called Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, is making its way past Earth just as the moon’s shadow is cast onto our planet. The comet has been making its way into the inner solar system and is already visible with a telescope, according to NASA.
The ‘Devil Comet’ is described as a Halley-type comet, one that comes around once or twice in one’s lifetime, and has a 71-year orbit, according to NASA. The last time it was seen in the inner solar system was in 1954 and it won’t be seen again until 2095.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks won’t be the only surprise guest during the celestial event on April 8 as four planets from our solar system will be on display.
Jupiter will be to the left of the sun and Venus will be on its right. Saturn and Mars are expected to be to the right of Venus, though they will be fainter than the other planets. The solar system’s three other planets will be in the vicinity, but virtually impossible to see with the naked eye.
Still faint, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will be positioned near Jupiter during the eclipse.
During totality, you may be able to spot the comet along with the four planets, if you’re lucky. It will take a sudden outburst of dust and gas to see this so-called devil comet without a telescope, according to Anita Cochran of the University of Texas at Austin.
But don’t waste time looking for it. “There is lots to see and not that long a time,” she told the Associated Press via email.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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