"Rare 'Devil Comet' Unveils Hidden Spiral in Explosive Display"

New images of Comet 12P reveal a hidden spiral of light surrounding its icy nucleus, likely caused by small geysers pumping out streams of cryomagma. The comet, known as the "devil comet," is cryovolcanic and has been erupting frequently as it approaches the sun, making its green-hued coma and sizable tail more visible. Astrophotographers have captured stunning shots of the comet, and it is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on June 2, potentially being visible to the naked eye. There is hope that the comet may be visible during the total solar eclipse on April 8, but it will likely require another large cryomagma eruption for it to be seen during totality.
- Explosive, green 'devil comet' has hidden spiral swirling around its icy heart, photo trickery reveals Livescience.com
- How to see the 'devil comet' visible in the night sky NPR
- 'Devil' Comet 12P puts on colorful spiral display as it approaches Sun ahead of total solar eclipse Fox Weather
- A Once-in-a-Lifetime Comet Is Currently Visible From Earth—Here's the Best Way to See It Martha Stewart
- Explosive 'devil comet' returns for 1st time in 71 years during April 8 eclipse, NASA says WPVI-TV
Reading Insights
0
1
4 min
vs 5 min read
86%
817 → 115 words
Want the full story? Read the original article
Read on Livescience.com