A comet the size of a large city has become 300 times brighter after four eruptions

Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, known as Centaurus, has had four major eruptions in the past 48 hours, making it 300 times brighter than usual.

Here's What We Know

This object, the size of a large city (60 kilometres across), is made up of ice, dust and gas. When a comet absorbs enough solar radiation, its insides heat up, creating pressure that causes the shell to crack and eject cryomagma into space. These eruptions create a cloud that reflects sunlight, which is what makes the comet brighter.

The latest eruptions, the largest in three years, have produced a debris cloud that reflects 289 times more light than the comet's nucleus. Astronomers from the British Astronomical Association observing 29P note that such powerful emissions add to the mystery of the object, as the causes and timing of the eruptions remain unpredictable.

Source: Space