Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks
We present optical observations of the Halley-type comet 12P/Pons–Brooks (12P) on its approach to perihelion. The comet was active even in the first observations at ∼8 au. Starting at ∼4 au, 12P exhibited an extraordinary series of outbursts, in which the brightness changed by a factor up to 100 and...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/add2ff |
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| author | David Jewitt Jane Luu |
| author_facet | David Jewitt Jane Luu |
| author_sort | David Jewitt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present optical observations of the Halley-type comet 12P/Pons–Brooks (12P) on its approach to perihelion. The comet was active even in the first observations at ∼8 au. Starting at ∼4 au, 12P exhibited an extraordinary series of outbursts, in which the brightness changed by a factor up to 100 and the coma morphology transformed under the action of radiation pressure into a distinctive “horned” appearance. Individual outburst dust masses are several ×10 ^9 kg, with kinetic energies ∼10 ^14 J, release times ∼10 ^4 s, and effective power ∼10 ^10 W. These properties are most consistent with, although do not definitively establish, an origin by the crystallization of amorphous water ice with the related release of trapped supervolatile gases. This interpretation is supported by the observation that the specific outburst energy and the specific crystallization energy are comparable (both ∼10 ^5 J kg ^−1 ). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d01ab96f5c3b4201a392dff383c521eb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1538-3881 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astronomical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-d01ab96f5c3b4201a392dff383c521eb2025-08-20T03:21:39ZengIOP PublishingThe Astronomical Journal1538-38812025-01-01169633810.3847/1538-3881/add2ffMultiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–BrooksDavid Jewitt0Jane Luu1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3104-4933Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, USA ; djewitt@gmail.comCentre for Planetary Habitability (PHAB), Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo , NO-0315 Oslo, NorwayWe present optical observations of the Halley-type comet 12P/Pons–Brooks (12P) on its approach to perihelion. The comet was active even in the first observations at ∼8 au. Starting at ∼4 au, 12P exhibited an extraordinary series of outbursts, in which the brightness changed by a factor up to 100 and the coma morphology transformed under the action of radiation pressure into a distinctive “horned” appearance. Individual outburst dust masses are several ×10 ^9 kg, with kinetic energies ∼10 ^14 J, release times ∼10 ^4 s, and effective power ∼10 ^10 W. These properties are most consistent with, although do not definitively establish, an origin by the crystallization of amorphous water ice with the related release of trapped supervolatile gases. This interpretation is supported by the observation that the specific outburst energy and the specific crystallization energy are comparable (both ∼10 ^5 J kg ^−1 ).https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/add2ffComet interiorsComet nucleiComet volatilesLong period cometsShort period comets |
| spellingShingle | David Jewitt Jane Luu Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks The Astronomical Journal Comet interiors Comet nuclei Comet volatiles Long period comets Short period comets |
| title | Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks |
| title_full | Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks |
| title_fullStr | Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks |
| title_short | Multiple Outbursts of Halley-type Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks |
| title_sort | multiple outbursts of halley type comet 12p pons brooks |
| topic | Comet interiors Comet nuclei Comet volatiles Long period comets Short period comets |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/add2ff |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidjewitt multipleoutburstsofhalleytypecomet12pponsbrooks AT janeluu multipleoutburstsofhalleytypecomet12pponsbrooks |