Astronomers are scrambling to gather data on a mysterious object that’s currently hurtling through the solar system.

The C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) comet, which was discovered early last year, reached the point in its orbit where it’s nearest to the sun on January 13. For the first time in 160,000 years, the comet was ...

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) photographed by Samit Saha of Bidada, Gujarat, India on Jan. 17, 2025. "Even after capturing several frames, I couldn't spot the comet on my camera's LCD screen.

It's called Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and for the past few nights it has been putting on a show for Australian star-gazers. But it can't go on forever — especially because astronomers now think ...

New photos of comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) suggest that it could be disintegrating due to "thermal stress" from its recent slingshot around the sun. However, its fate is still unclear.

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) did it! It survived its perilous perihelion, getting ten times closer to the Sun than Earth does. This comet is a sungrazer comet, and the encounter made it bright – so ...

When comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) was discovered, it was very faint, which suggested its nucleus was relatively small. As a result, it seemed likely to fall apart during its close approach to the Sun.

— Get ready for the 'New Year Comet': What to expect from Comet ATLAS (C/2024) G3 However, as bright as the comet may be, it will be very hard to see since it will be so close to the sun.

A timelapse taken by the NASA/ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft showing comet C/2024 G3 ATLAS approaching the sun between Jan. 11 and Jan. 13, 2025. (Image credit: NASA/ESA ...

The comet, named C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), made its closest approach to Earth on Tuesday (Jan. 14) when it came within 88 million miles (142 million kilometers) of our planet.

The best viewing opportunities for G3 ATLAS will be in the Southern Hemisphere, where observers can look for the comet shortly after sunset. With its bright glow, the comet is expected to outshine ...