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Source-This post on Mother of Dragons Comet is based on the article “‘Mother of Dragons’ comet visible in the skies. All you need to know” published in “India Today” on 1st April 2024.
Why in the News?
The “Mother of Dragons” comet, formally designated as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, is currently making a rare appearance in the skies of the Northern Hemisphere.
About Mother of Dragons Comet
1. Type– It is as a ‘Halley-type‘ comet, orbiting roughly every 71 years.
2. Naming– It is named by the European Space Agency (ESA).
3. Classification– It falls under the classification of a Jupiter-family comet. Its orbit is affected by the gravitational force of Jupiter.
4. Composition– It is made up of ice, dust, and rocky elements. When it approaches the Sun, the heat transforms the comet’s ice from solid to gas.
5. It’s Nearest approach to Earth will occur in June 2024.
| Comet 1. Comets are cosmic bodies made mainly of ice, dust, and rocky material, travelling around the Sun in elongated, oval orbits. 2. Originating from the outer reaches of the solar system, they come from either the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud. |
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