A newly-discovered comet, Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3), is expected to light up the night sky in the coming weeks, potentially shining brighter than planet Venus. The comet will make its closest approach to the sun on January 13, coming within 8.3 million miles of our star.
During this passage, the comet is predicted to shine with a magnitude of -4.5, although some forecasters believe it could become even brighter, possibly becoming visible during daylight hours. However, this would pose a significant challenge due to its proximity to the sun and would only be safe to observe with specialized equipment.
Comet ATLAS will appear in the constellation Sagittarius, but its low position in the sky makes it best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere may not see the comet at all.
The comet’s appearance is due to its close proximity to the sun and its composition of frozen gases, rocks, and other debris. As it approaches the sun, the heat causes the ice in the nucleus to sublimate, creating a glowing halo around the nucleus called the coma.
Comets follow highly elliptical orbits, taking them from distant regions to close encounters with the sun. The closer a comet gets to the sun, the more likely it is to break up due to extreme heat.
The discovery of Comet ATLAS was made by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope system on April 5, 2024. Its full orbit around our sun is expected to take 160,000 years if it survives its brush with the sun.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/new-comet-atlas-c-2024-g3-visible-night-sky-naked-eye-venus-astronomy-2011079