'Devil comet' bigger than Mount Everest racing towards Earth and is set to explode in hours
The devil comet will pass by Earth next year
SPACE REFERENCE
A rare "devil comet" that is bigger than Mount Everest is set to "blow" in just hours, a leading scientist believes after uncovering a pattern of behaviour.
The 18.6 mile wide cosmic object, formally known as Comet 12P, is currently surging towards Earth.
It will sweep past in April 2024 - and could even be visible to the naked eye - before being flung back out into the outer solar system.
The devil comet gets its name because of the horn like shape it adopts ay time it erupts.
First discovered in 1812, scientists have long been fasinated by the space object
First discovered in 1812, scientists have long been fascinated by the space object.
And now, more than 100 years after first being spotted, scientists finally think they have worked out the pattern of its explosions.
Richard Miles of the British Astronomical Association told Spaceweather.com: "It's like 'Old Faithful'.
"Comet 12P has a super cryogeyser, eruption of which is triggered after local sunrise at its location."
By scientists' calculations, the comet will next blow in a matter of just hours.
Around every 15 days the rock appears to violently ice and gas.
Experts believe that the eruptions take place every time the spinning object's cryovolcanic vent faces towards the sun.
Intense heat builds up nitrogen and carbon monoxide within the comet, leading to an explosion of icy debris.
SpaceWeather reports: "Since the 19th century, at least seven significant outbursts have been observed."
But in an indication that the explosions may be becoming more frequent, it added: "2023 is on pace to match that number in one year alone."
Comet 12P orbits the sun with it only coming close to Earth every 71 years meaning sightings of the object are rare.
The last time it was visible from Earth was in 1954.