Devil Comet Will Make Its 70 Year Return, Michigan Won't See It

Another exciting astrological event is going to be taking place besides the solar eclipse in April. A bright comet that hasn’t been seen since 1954 will make its 70-year return towards the end of March. It’s known as the "Devil Comet" or, as it is properly categorized, 12 P/Pons Brooks will be streaking across the night sky in late March in the west-northwest part of the sky at the end of the evening.

The comet was originally discovered by Jean-Louis Pons back on July 12 of 1812, and since then is one of the more popular reoccurring comets, besides the obvious Halley’s Comet. But unfortunately, if you live in Michigan, you probably won’t be able to see it. Recently, NASA released information on the comet and when it is supposed to be in the visible sky.

Get our free mobile app

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is heading toward its closest approach to the Sun on its 71-year orbit, and is bright enough to observe in telescopes and binoculars. There's a possibility it might become just visible to the unaided eye by late March or sometime in April. 12P/Pons-Brooks, often referred to as the "Devil Comet" for its hornlike appearance, has been making its way into the inner solar system and is already visible with a telescope.

Why Won't We Be Able To See The Devil Comet In Michigan?

Doesn’t it seem like every time there is some kind of meteor shower or comet streaking across the sky, Michigan always seems to have cloudy weather that night? Why is that?

Is it like that for everybody across the state? Do the people in the upper peninsula struggle with seeing meteor showers as bad as people in Southwest Michigan?

Hopefully, we will have good weather and clear skies that night, but with Michigan’s history of cloudy skies during a meteor shower, we may miss it completely.