Surprise brightening of a comet!
Comet 12P Pons-Brooks is undergoing a transformation visible to the naked eye. The comet has brightened rapidly from magnitude 6 to reported magnitudes of 3.5 – from a binocular comet to a naked eye in a matter of days!
What causes this phenomena? It's likely that an ice geyser burst forth from the comet's surface, ejecting a blend of reflective gas and dust into the void of space. This occurrence couldn't have been better timed for sky-watchers eager to capture images of the comet amidst the darkened moments of Monday's total solar eclipse in the USA.
As night falls, the comet appears in the western sky, situated near the planet Jupiter. From a dark sky site unaided eye can see the comet’s nucleus as a faint and small blur. However, with the assistance of cameras and even modest telescopes, observers are treated to the spectacular sight of the comet's trailing tail.
A piece of advice for eclipse photographers: Equip yourself with two cameras—one to focus on the sun, and another dedicated to capturing Comet 12P. You'll likely appreciate having both at your disposal. Images capturing a comet within the Moon's shadow are extremely rare sightings!