Will Michiganders Catch a Glimpse of the ‘Green Devil Comet’?

I think it's safe to say that most people have heard of Halley's Comet, which is probably the most famous of all comets. Some of us were even lucky enough to see it when it passed in the night sky in 1986.

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Younger generations will get the opportunity to see Halley's Comet the next time it passes through the night sky in 2061 during its regular 76-year journey around the Sun. If I'm lucky enough to live until I'm 87 years old, I'll get to see it again.

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One comet that seems to be a little less popular is 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the Green Devil Comet. It too is a periodic comet with an orbital period of approximately 71 years.

The Green Devil Comet was first discovered by astronomer Jean-Louis Pons in 1812 and then rediscovered by William Robert Brooks in 1883, thus earning the dual name, Pons-Brooks.

Will Michiganders Catch a Glimpse of the 'Green Devil Comet'?

Residents living in Michigan and parts of the northern hemisphere will get to see the Green Devil Comet as it passes over this spring. The Green Devil Comet should be visible in dark skies throughout March and through the third week of April.

To see the city-size comet, you'll need to find a dark location, as far as possible from bright city lights. It's also best to avoid nights when the moon is really bright.

According to Earth, observers should look toward the western sky after nightfall, where they can find the Great Square of Pegasus, a constellation distinguished by four stars of nearly equal brightness. In the following weeks, the comet will move from this constellation toward Aries the Ram, recognizable by its loosely formed V-shape.