2024-04-07 03:17:54
Have you ever seen a comet? There is currently a special opportunity: the “Devil’s Comet” can be seen in the night sky.
Its name 12P/Pons-Brooks is less exciting than the nickname “Devil’s Comet”. The chunk of ice and dust, known for its bright bursts of gas and dust, can currently still be seen in the night sky. However, discovering the milky spot of light with a greenish shimmering tail is not that easy. If you want to take beautiful photos of the “Devil’s Comet”, you have to organize a little equipment.
Find the right observation location
The 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently visible on the western horizon and is expected to be visible in the Northern Hemisphere until mid-April. According to Simon Plate from Potsdam’s Urania Planetarium, the best time to observe and photograph it is around 9 p.m. If possible, you should choose a dark place with few sources of light in the area.
The bright Jupiter serves as a guide. A little further down, a hand’s breadth above the horizon, with a bit of luck the comet can be seen as a blurry, gray spot. If you use binoculars, you may also be able to see the shimmering green tail.
If you don’t know your way around the night sky, you can get help using an app – for example with Starlight, Star Walk or SkyView. These apps use positioning data and show constellations and planets on the display when you point your smartphone camera at the sky. The apps are usually free in the basic version.
Choose the right equipment
To photograph the “Devil’s Comet” you do not need highly specialized equipment. Astronomer Simon Plate recommends a camera with a larger lens – ideally a digital SLR or compact camera. However, to avoid blurring the image, you should use a tripod or a solid surface.
Now it’s time to experiment with the camera settings until the photos look good. According to Simon Plate, good results can be achieved with an exposure time of around 10-30 seconds and an ISO setting between 800 and 1600.
If you don’t have a camera at hand, with a bit of luck you can also take nice smartphone pictures. Many devices offer special modes for night photos or even astrophotography. If you don’t have a tripod, you can hold the smartphone in both hands and rest your arms on a wall or table to minimize camera shake.