Comet ATLAS Offers Stunning Display as It Nears the Sun

In mid -January 2025, comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) was observed as it was contacted within 8 million miles of the Sun, which offers a surprising performance recorded by ESA and NASA Solar and Heliochapharic Observatory (Soho) Is. The spacecraft captured the images of the comet’s brightness and its tail extends dramatically as it passes through the intense atmosphere of the Sun. This astronomical phenomenon provided scientists a valuable opportunity to study the interaction between the solar wind and the tail of the comet, which reveals the insight into the solar activity.

Details of observation

According to Soho Mission reports, the comate was tracked using a large angle and spectrometric corongraph equipment from 11 January to January 2025. The sunlight was blocked by a disc in images, allowing the unconscious details of solar corona. The head of the comet became so shiny during his Perihelian on 13 January that the Lasco sensors were briefly overwhelmed, causing horizontal lines known as “bleeding” in imagination.

Scientific importance

Karl Battams, the chief investigator of LASCO at the US Naval Research Laboratory, said in a press release that the comet’s tail demonstrated noticeable responses for the solar air fluctuations. These reactions are being studied to understand the effects of the Sun on nearby objects. LASCO, which has contributed to the discovery of more than 5,000 comets since its launch, plays an important role in solar and heliosferic studies.

Visibility and current status

Reports from an official press release by NASA suggest that comet Atlas was briefly appeared in the Northern Hemisphere after sunset during its nearest approach. However, the comet is now recurring and is best observed from the Southern Hemisphere. Astronomers have suggested that the comet may be fragmented after its solar encounter, increasing the possibility of rapid dimming in the coming days.

The Soho Mission is a collaborative project managed by NASA and ESA, with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center led Mission to operate.