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I share in La Vanguardia Readers’ Photos these images of the sighting of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks (the devil’s comet) at sunset in Roca Grossa.
The photos have been taken by both me (@bcnllum) and my daughter Gina, within the group @barcelona_photograpers.
We have been hunting the “devil comet”, 12P/Pons-Brooks from Roca Grossa. It is one of the brightest comets with a visit to Earth every 71 years.
These days it is visible to the naked eye after sunset, in a west/northwest direction, towards where Jupiter can be observed.
Its core measures about 35 km in diameter and its nickname refers to its two tails that give it the appearance of a devil’s horns, formed in the last four months after two internal fractures. Comets of this type formed 4.6 billion years ago, at the same time as the solar system.
Its composition is dust, ice and organic matter, which when approaching the Sun and heating turns from solid to gas. This gas escapes forming tails and the solar wind pushes them away from the Sun.
It was discovered by Jean-Louis Pons and William-Robert Brooks. At the time of capturing these images, its visibility has been wonderful thanks to the clear sky.
