Hot on tail of Quadrantids meteor showerAnother celestial sight is on the horizon: comet Atlas C/2024 G3, which will reach perihelion—the point of its orbit closest to the sun—on January 13. On the same day, we'll also see it is closest to Earth and it could become the brightest comet in 2025, in a year when no other comet will be visible to the naked eye. Here's everything you need to know.
C/2024 G3 was discovered on April 5, 2024 by the Asteroid Impact Final Warning System (Atlas)—a network of telescopes that scan space for potential asteroids crashed into Earth. Comet comes from Oort Clouda remote region at the outer edge of the solar system believed to contain remnants of the material that formed the solar system's planets.
When comet C/2024 G3 reaches perihelion, it will be just 13.5 million kilometers from the sun—for context, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, orbits the star at a distance of 47 million kilometers . According to the latest calculations reported by Planetary AssociationC/2024 G3 can reach a magnitude of –4.5, comparable to Venus, and can be seen with the naked eye by those in the southern hemisphere.
However, the comet's close journey to the sun raises the question of whether it will survive. Its orbit shows that this is an old comet and that this is not its first trip around the sun. In fact, its last approach is estimated to have been about 160,000 years ago, which means it may have survived a close pass. “It will be very hot and may not survive,” said Nick James, director of the orbiter's comet division. British Astronomical Society. “But if there is, it could be a dramatic object in the evening sky from the southern hemisphere after perihelion.”
How to observe comets
If it survives unscathed, the comet will be visible in the western southern hemisphere shortly after sunset on January 13. The comet's orbital configuration makes it difficult for those in the northern hemisphere to observe— it will appear very low in the sky soon after. sunset or before sunrise, but may be engulfed by dusk.
The comet's proximity to the sun means identifying it can be dangerous, and James said that C/2024 G3 “should only be observed if you are an experienced observer”. Looking directly at the sun without protection can cause permanent eye damage.
There will also be interference from the moon's light, which is waning, which could make viewing more difficult. The comet can be observed with the naked eye in the southern hemisphere but may require binoculars or a telescope.
Those who don't want to miss the show can follow the comet in images from Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Lasco C3 footage, or consult IAU Minor Planet Center or Observing Comet (COBS) database.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Italy and has been translated from Italian.