C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) is a long-period, sungrazing comet, which will reach perihelion on 13 January 2025, at a distance of 0.09 AU from the Sun. It could become the brightest comet of 2025,[4] possibly exceeding apparent magnitude of −3.5. The comet is visible in the southern hemisphere before and after perihelion. It can only be observed in the daytime sky around perihelion in the northern hemisphere.[5]
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | T. Linder |
| Discovery site | ATLAS-W68 |
| Discovery date | 5 April 2024 |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch | 6 June 2024 (JD 2460467.5) |
| Observation arc | 206 days |
| Number of observations | 271 |
| Perihelion | 0.09 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 2,631 AU (inbound) 6,135 AU (outbound) |
| Eccentricity | 0.9999970(Epoch 1 January 2022) 1.0000141(Epoch 6 June 2024) 0.9999973(Epoch 1 January 2028) |
| Orbital period | 135,000 years (inbound) 450,500 years (outbound) |
| Inclination | 116.852° |
| 220.331° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 108.127° |
| Next perihelion | 13 January 2025 |
| Earth MOID | 0.4826 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 3.8373 AU |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 8.8 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 12.4 |
Observational history
editThe comet was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey on 5 April 2024, in images obtained with a 0.5-m reflector telescope located in Río Hurtado, Chile. The comet at the time was a magnitude 19 object about 4.38 AU (655 million km) from Earth. Further observations indicated it had a diffuse coma about 4.5 arcseconds across and a straight tail.[1] At the time of discovery, it was assumed that this was a new comet from the Oort cloud, and with its very weak absolute magnitude (H=9), there was very little to no chance that it would survive perihelion.[6][7] But as the orbit was refined it was found to be likely a dynamically old comet, having made close approaches to the Sun before.[8]
By 30 October 2024, the comet had an apparent magnitude of 11.9 per reported observations at the Comet Observation Database (COBS)[9], visible with large telescopes. By mid December 2024 it had brightened to 8th magnitude and was located in Scorpio, visible at dawn in the southern and equatorial regions.[10]
In case of this comet very difficult to predict peak brightness (spread more than 10 mag). G. van Buitenen predicts −4.5 magnitude, accounting for forward scattering, however it will be just 5 degrees from Sun at peak magnitude.[11] After perihelion the comet heads southwards, while in mid northern latitudes will be low, being 2 degrees above the horizon at the end of the civil twilight.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b T. Linder (18 April 2024). "MPEC 2024-H22 : Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ S. Yoshida. "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS): Brightest Comet of 2025?". StarWalk. 14 June 2024.
- ^ A. Hurt (16 November 2024). "Missed the Comet C/2023 A3? Don't Worry, Here are Other Comets to Look For". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ M. Mattiazzo. "2024G3". Southern Comets Homepage. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Unveiling Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS): A Bright Celestial Wanderer To See In 2025". Orbital Today. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "ALPO Comet News for NOV 2024" (PDF). www.alpo-astronomy.org. Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Observation list for C/2024 G3". COBS – Comet OBServation database. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b B. King (18 December 2024). "Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) Kicks off the New Year — What to Expect". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ G. van Buitenen. "C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)". astro.vanbuitenen.nl. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
External links
edit- C/2024 G3 at the JPL Small-Body Database
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