Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) captured on 31 December 2024 in Río Hurtado, Chile">
A surprise comet could be as bright as Venus when it passes by Earth soon. It’s called Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) and was first seen by NASA in April last year. At first, astronomers thought it might not survive near the sun, but now it seems it will.
The comet has a new orbit that takes 160,000 years to complete. It can be seen in the southern hemisphere and might also be visible in the north with binoculars. The comet is getting brighter, but it’s not breaking up like some thought. This could make it one of the brightest comets in a long time.
If it stays bright, it will shine best when it gets closest to the sun on January 13. People in the north can try to see it from January 12 to 14. Best times are just before sunrise on the 12th and just after sunset on the 14th.
Exciting times for stargazers!
Vocabulary List:
Comet /ˈkɒm.ɪt/ (noun): An icy small body that releases gases or dust.
Astronomers /əˈstrɒn.ə.mərz/ (noun): Scientists who study celestial bodies and the universe.
Orbit /ˈɔː.bɪt/ (noun): The curved path of a celestial object around a star planet or moon.
Visible /ˈvɪz.ə.bəl/ (adjective): Able to be seen or perceived.
Brightness /ˈbraɪt.nəs/ (noun): The quality or state of being bright; intensity of light.
Exciting /ɪkˈsaɪt.ɪŋ/ (adjective): Causing great enthusiasm and eagerness.
