‘Great Comet of 2025’ Captured in Final Stunning Views Before Vanishing for 500,000 Years
The night sky over Chile recently became the backdrop for an extraordinary celestial event—the fleeting brilliance of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), famously dubbed the “Great Comet of 2025.” This comet, the brightest predicted for the year, put on a mesmerizing display before beginning its long journey into the depths of space.
A Rare Celestial Visitor
Discovered on April 5, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), Comet C/2024 G3 is no ordinary space wanderer. Unlike periodic comets that return within a human lifetime, this one won’t be seen again for another 500,000 to 600,000 years—if it survives its journey at all.
On January 13, 2025, the comet reached perihelion, its closest approach to the sun, coming within just 8 million miles—well inside Mercury’s orbit. During this time, it shone with a magnitude of -3.8, making it one of the brightest celestial objects in the sky, second only to Venus, which has a magnitude of -4.8.
A Spectacle in the Southern Hemisphere
Observers in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Chile, were treated to breathtaking views of the comet both before and after perihelion. Those in the Northern Hemisphere, however, had only brief opportunities to glimpse it during daylight hours around its closest approach.
As it moved past the sun, the comet began to disintegrate. Despite this, it still boasted a striking coma—a glowing cloud surrounding its core—and dual tails. The dust tail reflected sunlight, while the ion tail glowed blue due to interactions with solar wind.
Capturing the Comet’s Final Glow
One of the most remarkable images of Comet C/2024 G3 was taken on January 24, 2025, by astronomer César Briceño, director of the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope in Chile. Using a mirrorless DSLR camera with an 85mm lens, he captured ten 30-second exposures at ISO 1600. The resulting composite image revealed intricate details of the comet’s structure, set against the deep blue sky over Andacollo, Chile.
Another photograph showcased the comet with the Chilean mountains in the foreground, faint stars twinkling in the background, and artificial satellites streaking across the frame. These images serve as a stunning farewell to a comet that will not return within humanity’s foreseeable future.
A Moment to Remember
As Comet C/2024 G3 fades into the void, its brief but spectacular appearance will remain one of the defining astronomical highlights of 2025. For those lucky enough to witness it, the memory of its glowing tails and luminous coma will linger long after it has vanished into the cosmos.
