A rare comet, dubbed the “New Year” comet, is hurtling toward the Sun and may become visible to the naked eye for observers in the southern hemisphere if it survives its intense heat. The comet, discovered in April by a telescope in Chile, will reach perihelion on January 13 at just 0.09 Astronomical Units from the Sun.
If current trends hold, the comet could be visible in the daytime and even outshine Venus in the night sky. However, skywatchers should exercise caution due to the comet’s close proximity to the Sun, making it a hazardous observation opportunity.
The “New Year” comet is part of a series of comets originating from the Oort cloud that make close approaches to the Sun before vanishing into space. Similar to the recent appearance of Comet A3 in October, which was visible from space on the International Space Station, this comet has caught astronomers’ attention.
If successful, this encounter could provide photographers with an unparalleled opportunity to capture stunning images of a rare celestial event.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/08/the-new-year-comet-could-outshine-venus-if-it-survives-solar-encounter