Key Facts


12P/Pons-Brooks is a large comet with a medium-length orbit that is highly inclined to the ecliptic plane of the solar system. NASA JPL has classified 12P/Pons-Brooks as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.

12P/Pons-Brooks orbits the sun every 25,900 days (70.91 years), coming as close as 0.77 AU and reaching as far as 33.47 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 12P/Pons-Brooks is probably between 2658.000 to 5943.469 kilometers in diameter, making it the largest asteroid/dwarf planet, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. state of Alaska.

No Close Approaches

12P/Pons-Brooks's orbit is 0.19 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.


Images and Observations

12P/Pons-Brooks's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 26, 1812. It was last officially observed on Aug. 23, 1954. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 278 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration




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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2435000.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 17.12 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.9548
  • Inclination: 74.18°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 255.89°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 199.03°
  • Mean Anomaly: 1.6°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~3431.463 km
  • Magnitude: 5.0

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 25,900 days (70.91 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 7.19 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 33.47 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 0.77 AU

Size Comparison

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 12P/Pons-Brooks is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.