Stunning new photos show the volcanic "devil comet" zooming in front of a striking crimson nebula as it races toward Earth. The green-colored comet, which is long overdue for another eruption, will make its closest approach to our planet later this year.
The explosive icy object, named Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks (12P), is a cryovolcanic, or cold volcano, comet that spans around 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) across and orbits the sun every 71 years. Cryovolcanic comets erupt when solar radiation opens up cracks in their hard shell, or nucleus, causing their icy guts to shoot out into space. This expands the comets' comas — the clouds of ice, dust and gas that surround them — and makes them appear much brighter for short periods.
