Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3), the brightest comet of the year, is reportedly undergoing disintegration after passing extremely close to the Sun on January 13, 2025. Astronomers observed that the comet's core is no longer the brightest part, as gas jets erupt from its side, indicating structural damage.
During its closest approach, the comet was just 13.36 million kilometers from the Sun, three times closer than Mercury. It reached a maximum brightness of magnitude -3.4, nearly matching Venus's brightness.
The extreme thermal pressure from the Sun has caused the comet's icy core to weaken through sublimation, which is the process of ice turning into gas. This fragility increases the likelihood of fragmentation.
Discovered on April 5, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), Comet ATLAS has an orbital period of approximately 160,000 years, making its visit to the solar system exceedingly rare. Shyam Balaji, a researcher from King's College London, noted that it could take thousands of years for the comet to return.
Similar events have occurred before; for instance, Comet Lovejoy (C/2011 W3) also disintegrated after a close approach to the Sun in 2011. As the comet approaches the Sun, one side heats up while the other remains cold, leading to cracks that compromise its structural integrity.
Despite the grim outlook for Comet ATLAS, this phenomenon presents a unique opportunity for observation and study, offering insights into how comets react to extreme solar conditions. Astronomers and the public are encouraged to observe Comet ATLAS as it may soon vanish from sight.