Comet 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann may be one of the most exotic objects in our solar system, exploding again and again with what is called “cryomax” as it travels through space.
According to astronomer Tony Phillips at Spaceweather.com, 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann, traveling at 41,836 km / h, refutes the scientific concept of the comet, where the phrase “a space giant volcano” best describes it.
Comet 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann has a completely different behavior and nature than other known comets, behaving like a volcano and erupting from time to time.
Phillips describes the comet, also known as 29P, as a large ice ball 37 miles (60 km) in diameter that “appears to be adorned with volcanoes that erupt 20 times a year.”
.RitBritAstro Comet 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann reports another strong eruption. Volcanic comet Oct. At 23 it suddenly became 10 times brighter, opening up a hole in the sunlight and emitting ‘cryomax’ into space. 1 / pic.twitter.com/ugXWX25SiE
– ❈ Erica 🎃 ❈ (@_AstroErika) October 25, 2021
The comet was first discovered in 1927 as it orbits the Sun in a planet-like orbit between Jupiter and Saturn. Its explosive behavior has been known for decades, but the body has recently entered a phase of overt hypervolcanic activity.
Since it does not approach the Sun, it does not have the same unique comet that scientists normally expect from comets in space, but it is surrounded by a faint coma (a dim image around the comet’s nucleus). They were traveling in self-made fog.
Richard Miles Phillips of the British Astronomical Society said: “The current eruption, which began on September 25, appears to be the most powerful in the last 40 years. In just 56 hours, four eruptions occurred in quick succession, resulting in a super eruption.
Miles has been studying comet 29P for many years and believes it does not contain magma, but rather a cold mixture of methane, ethylene and other liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn’s moon Titan.
Phillips explains: “In the Miles model, the chromagma is dusted and filled with dissolved gases of nitrogen and carbon monoxide, all of which are trapped beneath the surface of the wax in some places. This bottle prefers volatile substances that explode when opened. So 29P.
The current massive eruption increased the brightness of the comet more than 200 times from Earth. If you have a powerful telescope, Sky and Telescope Magazine has a brief guide on how to detect a turbulent comet.
Miles not only studied the comet, but also explored the possibility of sending a spacecraft to explore it closely in the future. NASA has so far refused to fund the proposed mission for 29P.
Source: CNET
