A rare comet, C/2024 G3, has made its closest approach to the Sun, becoming visible for the first time in 160,000 years. The comet came within 8.6 million miles of our home star during perihelion on Monday, appearing as a magnitude -3.4 bright spot in the night sky. This celestial snowball is predicted to be the brightest of 2025, surpassing Venus’s brightness.
Discovered in April 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), C/2024 G3 originates from the Oort Cloud, a region surrounding our solar system with icy bodies. Despite its close proximity to the Sun, the comet is visible from both hemispheres in the evening sky and will soon be seen in the Southern Hemisphere after sunset.
The comet’s path across the sky makes it challenging to observe, particularly during the day due to its brightness. However, astrophotographers have captured stunning images of C/2024 G3 in broad daylight, showcasing its icy beauty. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is also providing live online views of the comet.
Comet enthusiasts can still spot C/2024 G3 extremely low in the southwestern sky until Saturday, but it will set 35 minutes after sunset. To observe the comet safely, it’s recommended to use binoculars or a large telescope after sunset. The next comet, 210P/Christensen, is expected to make its closest pass of the Sun later this year, although it will not be as bright and may only be visible through large binoculars.
Source: https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/comet-texas-view-20033344.php