Researcher Noemí Pinilla-Alonso explained that the composition is uncharacteristic of objects near Neptune. Its gaseous and solid states, which lead to behavior like that of an asteroid and a comet, are also head-scratchers.

Comet ATLAS hit a maximum magnitude of -3.4 during its close encounter with the sun, just shy of the brightness of Venus in the night sky.

January 13, 2025, as Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) reaches its peak brightness. This once-in-a-lifetime spectacle marks the comet's closest approach to the Sun, bringing it within 8.7 million miles of the Sun at its perihelion.

Comet G3 ATLAS is set to shine at its brightest this week, potentially outshining Venus and Jupiter. G3 ATLASs orbit is so big that it takes roughly 160,000 year to go around the Sun. As it approaches perihelion on January 13,

Scientists have made a shocking discovery about a rare object in our solar system likened to an asteroid-comet hybrid. Astronomers from the University of Central Florida have made the space discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

A rare celestial event will take place tonight as Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) reaches its peak brightness tonight. The comet was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile, on April 5, 2024.

When comet G3 reached its closest point to the sun, it flared up to an impressive magnitude of -3.4 — significantly brighter than Jupiter, which shines at a maximum magnitude of -2.8. This makes it one of the brightest comets witnessed in almost two decades.

A celestial body recently discovered by a Chinese observatory has been confirmed as a comet by the International Astronomical Union IAU Astronomers

Skies over South Carolina kick off 2025 with a planet parade, ancient comet and the muse of "Beyond Antares," a 23rd-century love song from "Star Trek" fame.

In the rare celestial event, occurring once every 160,000 years, the Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) is likely to reach its peak brightness within 8.7 million miles of the Sun at its perihelion. The comet was initially faint,

Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars will appear to line up and be bright enough to see with the naked eye in the first few hours after dark. This weekend, Venus and Saturn get especially cozy.

In a race against time, clouds and the setting sun, photographer Josh Dury captured this dramatic photograph of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) at dusk on Jan. 15. The comet is a rare visitor to our ...