Unveiling the Mysteries of the New Year Comet: ATLAS G3 Revealed!

Is there a chance for a bright naked-eye comet at the start of 2025? It’s likely — yet the truth probably won’t correspond with the excitement surrounding the so-called “New Year comet,” known as comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3).

While it has the potential to be bright — and soon — comet ATLAS G3 will predominantly (and only momentarily) be seen solely by observers in the Southern Hemisphere, as per astronomers.

Here’s what you ought to understand regarding this celestial snowball originating from the outer solar system — and the reasons it may not be the stunning display some anticipate.

Comet ATLAS G3: When And Where To Spot It

Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is expected to reach perihelion — its nearest point to the Sun — on January 13, 2025. On that particular date, it will approach within just 8.3 million miles (13.5 million kilometers) of the sun. This distance is less than one-third of Mercury’s average separation from the sun.

January 13 will also mark comet ATLAS G3’s closest encounter with Earth, potentially glowing as intensely as magnitude -4.5. This brightness could rival that of Venus in the night sky.

However, there’s a caveat. The comet’s location in the constellation Sagittarius indicates it will only be observable from the Southern Hemisphere after sunset. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere likely won’t have an opportunity to witness Comet ATLAS G3 due to its trajectory and low position in the sky.

Comet ATLAS G3: Will It Endure The Sun?

C/2024 G3’s close approach to the sun poses significant risks to its survival. On December 24, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe got as close as 3.86 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the sun’s surface. It managed to survive, but only due to some remarkable thermal protection.

The extreme heat and gravitational forces at 8.3 million miles (13.5 million kilometers) from the sun might lead to the comet breaking apart before it becomes visible in the evening sky. If it does endure, it should be a captivating sight in the evenings following January 13 — but only from the Southern Hemisphere.

Comet ATLAS G3: Lunar Brightness Challenges

Even for adept skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere, the timing of comet G3’s perihelion may present difficulties on January 13. A bright, full “Cold Moon” will rise in the east, directly opposite the comet in the west. The moonlight will diminish contrast and complicate the task of spotting the comet. However, viewing conditions will slowly improve in the days following the full moon as our natural satellite rises later each evening.

Comet ATLAS G3: How Does It Measure Up?

Although C/2024 G3 may struggle to fulfill the excitement — and be impossible to observe from the Northern Hemisphere — comet fans can hardly express dissatisfaction. In October 2024, comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) became visible to the naked eye for those away from light pollution and through binoculars and telescopes for everyone before it faded from view in November. In 2020, comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) — dubbed the “lockdown comet” — dazzled observers in the Northern Hemisphere with its brilliant core and lengthy tail.

Comet ATLAS G3: Its Origin

Discovererd on April 5, 2024, by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) observatory network, C/2024 G3 is believed to originate from the Oort Cloud, a shell of comets encircling the solar system.

Comet ATLAS G3 is presumed to orbit the sun every 160,000 years, categorizing it as a very long-period comet.

Wishing you clear skies and keen eyes.