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Huge comet three times the size of Everest hurtling towards Earth in violent fireball
A huge comet has exploded in space and is now hurtling towards Earth, astronomers have revealed.
A huge comet, three times the size of Mount Everest, is racing towards Earth with its path mapped out by modelling. But, luckily, the comet, named 12P/Pons-Brooks, will narrowly miss Earth when it glides past on April 21, 2024.
The unusual occurrence was spotted when the comet suddenly began to shine dozens of times brighter in the sky. The British Astronomical Association (BAA), which has been closely monitoring 12P, detected the explosion because of the light reflected.
Comets are normally icy balls of gas, rock and dust but 12P/Pons-Brooks is a cold volcano, also known as a cryovolcanic – comet.
It measures a colossal 18.6 miles (30 kilometres) in diameter, and it erupted on October 5.
Scientists said that the comet won't reach its closest point to Earth until 2024 when it will become visible to the naked eye. This comet will then be catapulted back into the solar system, and won't make its cosmic comeback until the year 2095.