A comet is approaching the Sun in a couple of weeks, giving skywatchers a chance to catch one of the brightest comets Earth has seen in 20 years.
Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) was named after how it was discovered in early April last year by the facility Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).
Astronomers predict it could become the 'brightest comet' of 2025, potentially shining with a magnitude of -4.5 which is bright enough to rival Venus.
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Comets are icy remnants from the solar system’s formation made up of dust, rock and frozen gases. Whilst they vary heavily in size, as they approach the Sun, they heat up, releasing gases and dust that create a glowing head that can sometimes be larger than a planet.
This outflow of heat forms a 'tail' that can stretch millions of miles, making comets a striking sight in the night sky.
ATLAS reports that the comet's appearance is 'notoriously hard' to predict in advance but, based on history, has likely 'survived at least one close approach to the Sun before.'
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And it's not one to miss either as research hints the comet is on a '160,000-year orbit', meaning it won’t return for millennia. So, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
On January 13, the comet is expected to reach perihelion (its closest point to the Sun), which is about 8.3 million miles proximity.
The same day, it's also predicted to reach its closest point to Earth.
Visibility won't be the same for everyone though and some will have a better chance at spotting the comet than others.
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While it will be spottable in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the latter will have an easier time with a clearer view and better visibility.
However, according to Sky & Telescope, skywatchers might spot the comet 'extremely low in the southwestern sky' from about January 15 to 18.
They reported that simulations show it will be visible at dusk in the days following perihelion.
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Meanwhile, ATLAS says Comet G3 ATLAS won't be visible to the naked eye but is likely spottable with basic technology like binoculars or a telescope.
Clear skies will also increase your chances of spotting it, so here's hoping for no rain, clouds or fog.
This month's new moon on January 29 will also make this event more convenient as the darker sky will make the comet easier to spot.
"The comet is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun (known as the perihelion) around January 13, 2025," said Dr Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London.
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"However, as with all comets, its visibility and brightness can be unpredictable. Observers may have opportunities to spot it in the days around perihelion, depending on local conditions and the comet's behaviour."