The comet, C/2024 G3 Atlas, will shine as bright as Venus over the UK starting January 13.
A rare comet, which only passes Earth once every 160,000 years, is set to shine as brightly as Venus in the UK skies in the coming days.
Known as C/2024 G3 Atlas, this icy space rock is rapidly approaching the inner solar system, with its closest approach to the Sun expected around January 13. On this date, the comet will be visible to stargazers across Britain, offering a spectacular celestial show before sunrise.
Experts advise looking towards the eastern horizon, where the comet is expected to appear as a bright object in the pre-dawn sky. After January 13, the comet may still be visible on the western horizon after sunset, though it could fade over time.
Dr. Shyam Balaji, an astroparticle physics researcher at King’s College London, cautioned that while predictions suggest the comet could become quite bright, its visibility and brightness are unpredictable. “As with all comets, the comet’s visibility and brightness can vary, and observers will have to rely on local conditions and the comet’s behaviour,” said Dr. Balaji. “The closer it gets to the Sun, the more its ice and gases will sublimate, potentially forming a coma and a tail.”
The comet’s bright appearance will depend on its proximity to the Sun and its ability to heat up, with ice evaporating to form the glowing coma. However, even with these predictions, comet brightness remains notoriously difficult to forecast. The comet will be passing about 8.3 million miles (0.09 AU) from the Sun, classifying it as a “sun-skirting comet.” It’s important to note, though, that this trajectory means the comet is not close enough to be classified as a “sungrazer.”
The comet, first detected on April 5, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, has only recently become visible in the northern hemisphere. Prior to this, it was too low on the southeastern horizon to be seen during the morning. But as the comet approaches the Sun, it will brighten significantly, giving skywatchers north of the equator the chance to observe it.
By January 2, the comet had already increased in brightness four-fold, and if visible, it will resemble a bright star with a whitish-gold glow. The tail is expected to be stubby, either pointing straight up or slightly tilting to the right.
Comets are remnants from the solar system’s formation, formed over 4.5 billion years ago. These “dirty snowballs,” made of dust, rock, and frozen gases, become more visible as they approach the Sun. As they heat up, the ice evaporates, creating a glowing coma and a tail.
For the best chance of seeing the comet, astronomers recommend finding a location far from city lights and using binoculars or a small telescope, as the comet’s brightness may vary.
