A rare celestial event is captivating skywatchers as Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) becomes visible for the first time in 160,000 years. Discovered by the ATLAS survey system, this comet is making its closest approach to the sun today (January 13) at a distance of approximately 8.3 million miles. Despite this distance, it is considered a “sun-skirter” due to its proximity to the sun.
Dr. Shyam Balaji, a researcher at King’s College London, told The Daily Mail that the comet’s visibility and brightness can be unpredictable. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best chance to see it, looking towards the eastern horizon before sunrise or the western horizon after sunset. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be visible from January 12 to January 14, about 35 minutes before sunrise and after sunset.
The comet, which was first discovered over 400 million miles from Earth, is now visible with binoculars. As it nears the sun, its ice and frozen gases sublimate, creating a glowing head and potentially a tail. The comet will appear as a bright star with a short, stubby tail.
This long-period comet will not return for thousands of years, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for stargazers. Those who miss it will have to wait millennia for another chance to witness this spectacular sight.
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