Live Science reports that a comet has erupted in a huge cloud of gas and ice and stunned the astronomy community.
The dirty snowball is believed to be the most volcanicly active comet in our solar system. It was discovered in 1927 by German astronomer Arnold Schwassmann and his colleague Arno Arthur Wachmann. It is thought that 29P came from the far reaches of the solar system.
The event was rare, and it was difficult to say why it was so big, according to a graduate student at the University.
Unlike an Earth-based volcano, comets like 29P release a frozen mixture of liquid hydrocarbons into outer space.
That material is thought to be the same type of material that may have brought life to the planet billions of years ago.
According to Spaceweather.com, a comet eruption in a massive cloud of gas caused an increase in brightness of more than four magnitudes.
29P did erupt violently, according to follow-up observations.
P29 is similar to the moons of Jupiter or Neptune in that it is wrapped in an icy core. The Sun's radiation causes gases to build up in the core and lead to a build-up of pressure.
British astronomer Richard Miles told Live Science that P29 may have released a large amount of ejected material.
Scientists don't know what caused it to erupt so violently. The Sun's radiation may have been affected by the slowing rotation of 29P.
Almost a century has passed since it was discovered. A closer look at 29P early next year will hopefully reveal new information about the alien body.
There is an eruption from a comet in the solar system.
There is a photo of a dying comet.
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