Comet Encke. Mysterious and elusive cosmic beauty

Comets are the most beautiful celestial bodies that people can observe even in the absence of binoculars or a telescope. When a comet appears in the sky, it immediately attracts everyone's attention. Someone thinks that at that moment the star has fallen and it's time to make a wish. There are also superstitious people who believe that the comet's approach marks the future catastrophes, illnesses and other misfortunes that threaten all of humanity.

Meanwhile, the comet is simply nice to admire at night. The bright aureole surrounding the nucleus of the comet, the long tail stretching to half the sky, the unexpected appearance and high speed fascinate the Earth observers, making us admire this mysterious and elusive cosmic beauty.

Comet Enke and her discovery

Comet 2P / Encke earthlings are observed from 1786 to the present. It was discovered at different times by many astronomers, but it was named after the German scientist Johann Franz Enck, who first managed to calculate its orbit. The astronomer conducted a comparative analysis of the motion of several comets and found that it was a question of one celestial body. The publication of his astronomical works occurred in 1819, in which he accurately predicted the appearance of a comet in 1822.

The symbol "P" in the official designation of a comet indicates that it is a periodic comet, that is, belonging to our solar system. 2P / Encke has a circulation period of less than two hundred years.

Comet, its nature and movement

Comet Enke does not have large stellar dimensions. Its diameter according to the latest data of space research is 4.8 km. Comet 2P / Encke, like any other comet, is a cold, not self-luminous body. It starts to glow and becomes visible only when it comes close to the Sun.

Comet Enke is the most short-period, the period of its circulation is 3.3 years. Its movement is fairly orderly and easily predictable, as it moves, it focuses on nearby planets.

When the most observed comet - Enke - approaches our star named Sun and undergoes an increased temperature regime, its gases change from solid to gaseous state. The brighter the glow of a comet, the more gases are released and the higher their release rate from the nucleus. Therefore, the closer a comet to the Sun, the more noticeable its luster, and vice versa, the farther a comet moves away from the Sun, the less noticeable is the glow of gases in the comet. When the comet approaches the Sun, its glow increases. The brightness of the comet's head is always greater than the brightness of its tail.

Goodbye, see you again!

Comet Enke returns to us quite often. The last time it was seen in the sky through binoculars or a telescope during the whole of February and March 2017. It could also be observed without any special optical means. In the mentioned period, the comet Enke delivered her 63rd visit, and it could be observed, drawing attention to the constellation of Pisces.

Thus, the Enke comet can boast a record number of its returns, and despite the fact that its brightness is gradually fading, the inhabitants of the Earth are eagerly awaiting the appearance of a tailed cosmic beauty in 2020.