The 'Devil Comet' may have an ominous name, but it's not scary at all, and we may be able to see it during totality!

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April 8th, Solar Eclipse

As we are getting closer to the total solar eclipse our area will be experiencing on April 8th, excitement is building.  This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of us.  During totality in the Evansville area, we will experience a full 3 minutes and 3 seconds of darkness.  Totality is when the moon fully covers the sun and it will turn into night time in the middle of the day.   That will give us 3 minutes to take a look at a dark sky, and it turns out we may also get to see something pretty neat, the Devil Comet.

The Devil Comet

Let's be honest, "Devil Comet" sounds very ominous, but no worries it is not ominous at all! Devil Comet is the nickname given to Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks.  According to Space, the comet got the nickname Devil Comet because last year the comet underwent an outburst that blew off a bunch of gas and dust and gave it a kind of horseshoe or horned shape with a dark center. Space has a much more scientific explanation that you can read here.  This comet orbits the sun every 71.2 years and poses zero threat to Earth.

We May Get to See the Devil Comet During Totality

What makes this comet's timing extra special is it should be close (well close-ish, we're talking close in outer space terms which in human terms isn't close at all) to the sun during the solar eclipse.  Space says that the comet may even be visible during totality with binoculars.

Space explains:

The last time Comet Pons-Brooks passed perihelion, the closest point to the Sun in its orbit, was 1954. The next will be, on April 21, 2024. That’s just two weeks after the April 8 total solar eclipse that will cross North America — and we now know that Comet Pons-Brooks will be in the sky near the Sun during totality. It’s likely to be bright enough to pick up with binoculars, and if it outbursts again, perhaps even visible to the naked eye in the daytime twilight brought on as the Moon covers the Sun. This is a special treat on top of an already exciting event, and one you won’t want to miss.

So it's safe to say April 8th, 2024 is gearing up to be a truly exciting day full of incredible celestial events that you won't want to miss.  And don't forget to get those eclipse glasses!