How to view the 'Mother of Dragons' comet from the UK
It won't return for more than 70 years
For all the budding amateur astronomers out there, not only will there be a solar eclipse happening just before sunset on Monday 8th April, but there is also the chance to see a huge comet in the night sky.
Dubbed the Mother of Dragons, this latest comet visible to us in the UK is larger than Everest! The comet has previously been observed in 1883, 1954 and 2023, with it now nearing the Sun and becoming a naked eye object from the UK in late March and early April 2024.
Where is the comet in the night sky?
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the comet is best-viewed between late March and early April. The comet will be low on the Western horizon just after dusk, and is best viewed with a small telescope, as its brightness is unpredictable. On nights when the comet is brighter it may be visible with the naked eye or binoculars, as a small fuzzy object.
For an accurate map of where to look for the comet you can use ESA's Sky Chart tool, entering your location and the comet's official name 12P/Pons-Brooks.
What is the comet called?
Officially named Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, after the two people who discovered it, the comet has been nicknamed Mother of Dragons because it is thought to be the parent comet of the small annual meteor shower (kappa-Draconids), which appears near the constellation of Draco, the Dragon.
Previously it's been nicknamed the ‘horned’ comet, or ‘devil’ comet due to its appearance.
Who discovered the comet?
The comet was first discovered by two prolific comet observers French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons, and British astronomer William R. Brooks.
How big is the comet?
The comet orbits the sun approximately every 71 years, and is around 18.6miles/30km wide, according to ESA.
When will the comet be visible again?
After this year, the comet won’t return to our night skies until 2095!
What are comets made of?
Most comets, including this one, consist of ice, dust and rocky material. When comets approach the Sun they give off gas, which drags the dust with it and creates the tail.
What is the difference between comets, asteroids and shooting stars (meteors)?
Comets, asteroids and meteors are very different. As described above, comets are made of ice, dust and rock. They also orbit the Sun, similar to the planets, however their orbits are elliptical.
Asteroids on the other hand are small lumps of rock, which are generally found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Meteors, or shooting stars as they are commonly called, are what you see when a small piece of rock (much smaller than a comet or asteroid), enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up, looking like a shooting star. Often the rock has come from a comet or asteroid.
Now take a look through our tips on how to view shooting stars:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Perseids come from Perseus, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.
Now read:
How to view Monday's solar eclipse from the UK
10 things you probably didn't know about shooting stars
Food and drink that bring back memories from school