![Massive comet with outbursts of brightness makes its approach toward Sun](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/Comet-Pons-Brooks.jpg)
Massive comet with outbursts of brightness makes its approach toward Sun
Fox News
Comet Pons-Brooks could be seen by the naked eye as gases underneath the surface cause the giant ice object to intensify in brightness as it approaches the Sun.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
The comet is about 18 miles in diameter and has been observed numerous times over the course of hundreds of years, most notably because of its outbursts of gas. Story tips and can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
According to Space.com, Jean-Louis Pons, who lived from 1761-1831, discovered 37 comets, mostly with the help of telescopes and lenses that he designed. On July 12, 1812, Pons saw what he described as "a shapeless object with no apparent tail," though over the next month the object brightened enough to be seen with the naked eye, though it was still dim.