Skygazers across the globe are in anticipation of a rare and possibly spectacular astronomical spectacle as Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) is set to shine brightest in January 2025. It has a good chance of outshining the planets Venus and Jupiter and possibly become the brightest comet seen since about two decades ago. It will occur when the comet reaches its perihelion, or closest approach to the Sun, on 13 January 2025, thereby offering a fleeting opportunity to view this extraordinary visitor from outer space.
Comet G3 ATLAS would shine brighter when closest approach to Sun on January 13
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey in Chile first detected Comet G3 ATLAS on 5 April 2024. It was at magnitude +19, which was faint and quite hard to see. This makes it challenging for astronomers to see. This comet is one of the few large, stretched orbit comets. The comet will take about 160,000 years to circle around the Sun. This long orbit makes the current look of Comet G3 ATLAS a very rare event, giving observers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it.
The comet has recently brightened, especially in the last few weeks. In fact, a dramatic outburst on 2 January 2025 helped in increasing its brightness by a great extent. It would be hoped that it would shine even brighter when it reaches the perihelion.
Its closest approach to the Sun will be on 13 January 2025 at perihelion. It is then that the comet will have approached the Sun to within only 8.7 million miles—the nearest any comet approaches the Sun under normal circumstances. This close passage by the Sun will make the comet shine very brightly as the solar radiation and heat vaporize parts of the icy nucleus, which will glow, forming a glowing coma and tail. Astronomers closely observe comets at their perihelion because here they are at most brilliant and spectacular. This is also the point at which comets can be most volatile, with some comets becoming unstable or disintegrating when passing close to the Sun.
Comet G3 ATLAS: Northern Hemisphere challenging viewing conditions
While Comet G3 ATLAS will be super bright, there are issues for the naked-eye observer in the Northern Hemisphere. Its southeastern position at dusk makes for a very bright twilight sky condition that severely limits observation capability by the naked eye. However, its trajectory now takes it north, offering easier opportunities to make observations on 12th to 14th January 2025.
The comet will be visible in the morning on 12 January when it rises some 35 minutes ahead of the Sun and is nearly aligned on one side with it. Its proximity to the horizon would force one to rely more heavily on using either binoculars or telescopes for detection. Viewers would best scan for it coming through the eastern horizon at these morning hours.
Will Comet G3 ATLAS reach Venus-like brightness?
It has been forecast that Comet G3 ATLAS will possibly reach as bright as -3.2 magnitudes, brighter than Venus at the sky’s eye. In this case, this would be an excellent view for the observers. As experts said, comets, especially the outburst and unstable ones while approaching the Sun, are highly unpredictable. Huge comets such as G3 ATLAS, by the strong heat and solar radiation, are commonly changing or breaking apart appearance.
This has not been proven to be so by Comet G3 ATLAS’ latest outburst, whose true activity is unknown. Astronomers will, though, closely observe the comet within the coming days to determine whether it is steady or if there will be more changes in the brightness and shape of the object.
Comet G3 ATLAS: Once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity
Despite its unsure behavior, the Comet G3 ATLAS would be a phenomenal addition to January’s sky. For a fleeting moment, there will be one of the extraordinary phenomena of our solar system and an opportunity that observers may hardly get again and again in a lifetime. Its mere appearance is of great interest; it’s extremely rare to spot bright comets in our century.
While Comet G3 ATLAS is one of the brightest comets that are going to be seen this year, there is a risk involved with being unpredictable. As such, it leaves the sky-watching people the opportunity to witness this spectacular sight. If tools and time allow, observers are given a chance to witness the celestial event which might be in astronomical history for years to come.
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