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C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)

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For other comets discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, see Comet ATLAS.

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)
Comet ATLAS photographed by Donald Pettit aboard the ISS on 11 January 2025
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byTyler Linder
Discovery siteATLAS–CHL (W68)
Discovery date5 April 2024
Orbital characteristics[3][4]
EpochPresent: 16 June 2024 (JD 2460477.5)
Inbound: 1 January 1800 (JD 2378496.5)
Outbound: 1 January 2200 (JD 2524593.5)
Observation arc267 days
Number of
observations		294
Aphelion6,391 AU (Inbound)
14,234 AU (Outbound)
Perihelion0.093 AU
Semi-major axis3,196 AU (Inbound)
7,117 AU (Outbound)
Eccentricity0.999970 (Inbound)
1.000013 (Present)
0.999987 (Outbound)
Orbital period≈180,000 years (Inbound)
≈600,000 years (Outbound)
Inclination116.851°
220.331°
Argument of
periapsis		108.125°
Last perihelion13 January 2025
Earth MOID0.483 AU
Jupiter MOID3.837 AU
Physical characteristics[4]
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		7.6
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)		12.4
–3.8[5]
(2025 apparition)

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is a non-periodic comet, which reached perihelion on 13 January 2025, at a distance of 0.09 AU (13 million km) from the Sun. It is potentially the brightest comet of 2025,[6] with an apparent magnitude reaching −3.8 on the day of its perihelion.[5] The comet is visible in the southern hemisphere before and after perihelion. It can only be observed in the daytime sky around perihelion in the northern hemisphere.[7]

Observational history

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The comet was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey on 5 April 2024, in images obtained with a 0.5-m reflector telescope located in Río Hurtado, Chile. The comet at the time was a magnitude 19 object about 4.38 AU (655 million km) from Earth. Further observations indicated it had a diffuse coma about 4.5 arcseconds across and a straight tail.[1]

By 30 October 2024, the comet had an apparent magnitude of 11.9 per reported observations at the Comet Observation Database (COBS),[5] visible with large telescopes. By mid December 2024 it had brightened to 8th magnitude and was located in Scorpius, visible at dawn in the southern and equatorial regions.[8] By the end of the month, its magnitude was reported to be between 5 and 5.5, having a coma about two arcminutes across and a tail up to 18 arcminutes long.[5]

On 2 January 2025, Terry Lovejoy reported that the comet experienced an outburst,[9] estimating its magnitude to be 3.7 photographically and 3.2 visually. On 3 January the comet had brightened to a magnitude of 2–2.4. The comet was reported to have a nuclear shadow, a dark lane in the tail, and was marginally visible with naked eye on that day.[10] On 7 January the comet was reported to be of first magnitude, with a tail about 20 arcminutes long.[5] The comet was photographed by cosmonaut Ivan Vagner onboard the International Space Station on 10 January.[11] The comet was also observed aboard the station by astronaut Donald Pettit on the following day.[12][13]

The comet entered the field of view of the LASCO C3 coronograph on SOHO on 11 January and was visible until 15 January.[14] In case of this comet, it is very difficult to predict peak brightness (spread more than 10 mag). G. van Buitenen predicts −4 magnitude, accounting for forward scattering, however it will be just 5 degrees from Sun at peak magnitude.[15] The comet became bright enough to photograph in broad daylight,[16][17] and was reported to be visible with naked eye.[18] After perihelion the comet headed southwards, while in mid northern latitudes was low, being 2 degrees above the horizon at the end of the civil twilight.[8]

Orbit

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At the time of discovery, it was assumed that this was a new comet from the Oort cloud, and with an absolute magnitude (H=9), there was very little to no chance that it would survive perihelion.[19][20] But as the orbit was refined, it was found to be likely a dynamically old comet, having made close approaches to the Sun before.[21]

Some media report C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) approaches the Sun once every 160,000 years.[12][22][23] However, according to long-term orbital calculations by the JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System, after approach to the Sun in 2025, aphelion distance of the comet will be more than twice as far away as before, and its orbital period will be about 600,000 years.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b T. Linder (18 April 2024). "MPEC 2024-H22 : Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. ^ S. Yoshida. "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) in epoch 1800 and 2200". JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 January 2025. (Solution using the Solar System's barycenter (Sun+Jupiter). Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  4. ^ a b "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Observation list for C/2024 G3". COBS – Comet OBServation database. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  6. ^ "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS): Brightest Comet of 2025?". StarWalk. 14 June 2024.
  7. ^ A. Hurt (16 November 2024). "Missed the Comet C/2023 A3? Don't Worry, Here are Other Comets to Look For". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b B. King (18 December 2024). "Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) Kicks off the New Year — What to Expect". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  9. ^ T. Lovejoy (3 January 2025). "C/2024 G3 in outburst? - Jan 2.76, 2025 UT". Groups.io. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  10. ^ D. W. Green (4 January 2025). "Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. 5488.
  11. ^ "Космонавт Вагнер сфотографировал комету C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)" [Cosmonaut Wagner photographed comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)]. TACC (in Russian). 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  12. ^ a b S. K. Tripathi (13 January 2025). "Once-in-a-lifetime Comet visible tonight. It won't return for 160,000 years". India Today. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  13. ^ D. Pettit [@astro_Pettit] (11 January 2025). "It is totally amazing to see a comet from orbit. ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is paying us a visit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ J. Rao (9 January 2025). "Once-in-a-160000-year comet G3 ATLAS could shine as bright as Venus next week. Here's what to expect". Space.com. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  15. ^ G. van Buitenen. "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". astro.vanbuitenen.nl. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Spaceweather.com Time Machine: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2025". www.spaceweather.com. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Spaceweather.com Time Machine: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025". www.spaceweather.com. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  18. ^ King, Bob (15 January 2025). "Grab Your Binoculars for Comet ATLAS's Brief Sunset Show". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  19. ^ M. Mattiazzo. "2024G3". Southern Comets Homepage. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Unveiling Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS): A Bright Celestial Wanderer To See In 2025". Orbital Today. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  21. ^ "ALPO Comet News for NOV 2024" (PDF). www.alpo-astronomy.org. Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  22. ^ A. Cuthbertson (13 January 2025). "Brightest comet in 20 years to appear this week". The Independent. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Rare comet may be visible for first time in 160,000 years". BBC. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
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