Overview
Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have successfully captured breathtaking images of a uniquely shaped comet with the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Ladakh. The Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Ladakh has provided a glimpse of the mesmerising ‘Devil’s Horn’ comet as it gracefully journeys through our solar system.
What is the Devil’s Horn Comet?
Belonging to the Neptune family of comets and formally known as 12P/Pons-Brooks, it stands out as the brightest member of this celestial family. The comet earned its intriguing nickname, “Devil,” in July of the year when astronomers observed distinct horns surrounding its nucleus, resembling something out of Star Wars. It sweeps past Earth every 71 years.
The Devil’s Horn Comet is estimated to be approximately three times the size of Mount Everest, the towering peak standing at an impressive 29,029 feet or about 5.5 miles. Estimating a comet’s size without direct observation from a spacecraft or radar is challenging.
Interestingly, The Devil’s Horn Comet, formally known as is set to make a close encounter with Earth in March 2024. This comet occupies about three-quarters of Earth’s distance from the Sun when it follows its orbit near the Sun’s path.
Devil’s Horn Comet Captured by the Himalayan Chandra Telescope
The captivating images were skillfully captured by the impressive two-meter-long telescope situated at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), perched atop Mt. Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri in Hanle, at an altitude soaring around 15,000 feet. Operating remotely from the institute’s CREST Campus in Hosakote, Karnataka, this telescope unveils the celestial wonders from its lofty vantage point.
As comets draw nearer to the Sun, they unleash sudden bursts of gas and dust, creating a spectacle often observed by large telescopes. The snapshots from the telescope on the night of November 21 showcase a remarkable bright arc on the top right, indicative of an intense outburst from the comet’s coma (the comet’s centre). Below, a darker lane emerges—the shadow cast by the comet’s nucleus on the surrounding gas.
The spherical atmosphere surrounding the centre of the comet boasts an impressive diameter of about 3.5 lakh km captured by the vigilant lens of the telescope. This comet was observed by Margarita Safonova, Pallavi Saraf, Manjunath Bestha and Pramod Kumar of IIA.
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, the head of the outreach section at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), expressed the collective fascination with comets, stating, “Comets always hold great fascination for all of us, and we will photograph this comet with our telescopes in the coming months to share its journey with everyone.”
Next year, on April 21, 2024, the Devil’s Horn Comet is set to make its nearest approach to the Sun, with its most intimate encounter with Earth following June 2, 2024. During this close meeting, it will be positioned at a distance 1.5 times that of the Earth-Sun distance. This cosmic wonder will be readily observable through small telescopes, binoculars, or even the naked eye.
More about The Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)
The 2-meter optical-infrared telescope, aptly named after Nobel laureate Subramaniam Chandrasekhar, holds its watchful position at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, near Leh in Ladakh. Perched at an impressive elevation of 4,500 meters, it claims the title of the tenth-highest optical telescope globally.
Operated with precision from a distance, the telescope relies on a dedicated satellite communication link from the Centre for Research & Education in Science & Technology (CREST) at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore. This remote operation allows astronomers to explore the cosmos without geographical constraints.
Equipped with advanced imaging instruments, including a Faint Object Spectrograph, a near-infrared camera, and an optical CCD camera, the telescope stands as a technological marvel, enabling detailed observations of celestial phenomena from its lofty vantage point in the Indian Himalayas.
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