APOD: 2025 January 26 Б The Many Tails of Comet G3 ATLAS
Explanation:
Why does this comet have so many tails?
C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) has developed several
long and intricate tails visible from
Earth's southern hemisphere over the past two weeks.
Many observers reported seeing the
impressive comet without any
optical aid
above the western horizon just after sunset.
At least six different tails appear in the
featured image captured five days ago from the dark skies above
Paranal Observatory in
Chile.
One possible cause for the multiple tails is dust and gas being
expelled from the comet's
rotating nucleus.
The outward push of the
Sun's complex
solar
wind may also play a role.
The huge iceberg-like nucleus of
Comet
ATLAS appears to have
broken
up near its closest approach to the Sun two weeks ago.
Unfortunately,
Comet ATLAS
and its tails are expected to fade significantly over the coming weeks.
Your Sky Surprise:
What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
