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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

‘Larger than Everest’ comet could become visible to naked eye this month

Comet Pons-Brooks appears above Arundel Castle in West Sussex.
Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks is photographed above Arundel Castle in West Sussex in this composite image. Photograph: Carl Gough/Big Ladder

A comet that is larger than Mount Everest could become visible to the naked eye in the coming weeks as it continues its first visit to the inner solar system in more than 70 years, say astronomers.

The icy body is a Halley-type comet – meaning it will turn up once, or possibly twice, in a lifetime. Indeed 12P/Pons-Brooks, as it is known, completes its orbit once every 71.3 years, and is due to make its closest approach to the sun on 21 April.

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