Why in the news?

The “Mother of Dragons” comet, officially named Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, is making a rare appearance in the Northern Hemisphere skies.
This Halley-type comet, completing its orbit every 71 years, has emerged marking its first sighting since 1954.

What is a Comet?

A comet is a celestial object composed primarily of ice, dust, and rocky particles that orbit the Sun in elongated, elliptical paths.
These icy bodies originate from the outer regions of the solar system, specifically from two regions: the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.
Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs” or “icy dirtballs” due to their composition.
Halley’s Comet is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 75–79 years.
It was last seen in Earth’s skies in 1986 and was met in space by an international fleet of spacecraft. It will return in 2061 on its regular journey around the Sun.

It is named by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The comet’s name is inspired by its link to the annual “kappa-Draconids” meteor shower, active from November 29 to December 13 each year.
It has a width of 17 km. the comet features an elliptical orbit adorned with a mysterious spiral of luminous light enveloping its icy nucleus.
It is comprised of ice, dust, rock, and diatomic carbon molecules.
It dissipates a radiant emerald hue when illuminated by the sun, captivating observers with its bright green appearance.

Renowned for its cryovolcanic eruptions, the comet periodically ejects material from its icy core into space, resulting in breath-taking luminosity.
Its most recent eruption in July 2023, after 69 years, earned it the moniker “devil comet” due to its dramatic outburst, resembling horns likely caused by internal features.

2014:

What is a coma, in the content of astronomy?

(a) Bright half of material on the comet

(b) Long tail of dust

(d) Two planets orbiting each other

With reference to the “Mother of Dragons” Comet, consider the following statements:

1. It is named by the NASA.

2. It is comprised of ice, dust, rock, and diatomic carbon molecules.

3. It makes appearances after every 10 years.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) One

(b) Two

(d) None