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 universal attention. Someone believes that at this moment the star fell and it is time to make a wish. There are superstitious people who believe that the approach of a comet marks the coming disasters, illnesses and other misfortunes that threaten all of humanity.
Meanwhile, the comet is simply nice to admire at night. A bright halo surrounding the comet’s nucleus, a long tail stretching for half the sky, an unexpected appearance and high speed fascinate earthly observers, forcing to admire this mysterious and elusive cosmic beauty.
Comet Enke and its discovery
Earthlings have been observing Comet 2P / Encke from 1786 to the present. It was discovered at different times by many astronomers, but it was named after the German scientist Johann Franz Enke, who first managed to calculate its orbit. The astronomer conducted a comparative analysis of the motion of several comets and found that we are talking about one celestial body. The publication of his astronomical works took place in 1819, in them 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 from space research is 4.8 km. Comet 2P / Encke, like any other comet, is a cold, non-luminous body. It begins to glow and becomes visible only when it comes close to the Sun.
Comet Enke is the shortest period, the period of its circulation is 3.3 years. Its movement is fairly ordered and easily predictable, because, moving, it focuses on nearby planets.
When the most observable comet - Enke - approaches our star named the Sun and undergoes a high temperature regime, its gases pass from a solid to a gaseous state. The brighter the comet’s glow, the more gases are released and the higher their rate of release from the nucleus. Therefore, the closer the comet is to the Sun, the more its brightness is noticeable, and vice versa, the farther the comet moves away from the Sun, the less noticeable is the luminescence of gases in the comet. When a 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 soon!
Comet Enke returns to us quite often. The last time she was visible in the sky with binoculars or a telescope throughout February and March 2017. It could also be observed without any special optical means. In the mentioned period, Comet Enke made her 63rd visit, and she could be observed, paying attention to the constellation Pisces.
Thus, Comet Enke can boast a record number of its returns, and despite the fact that its brilliance is gradually fading, the inhabitants of the Earth are eagerly awaiting the appearance of a tailed space beauty in 2020.