C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) comet hurtles through cosmos over Tasmania in extremely rare sight

A comet believed to be in its death throes could briefly be seen over Tasmania this week as it hurtled through the cosmos in a magnificent flash of searing light.

A keen photographer has captured a dying comet hurtling through the cosmos. It was briefly visible to the naked eye from kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the night of January 26.

A comet believed to be in its death throes could briefly be seen over Tasmania this week as it hurtled through the cosmos in a magnificent flash of searing light.

The C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) comet, which was discovered early last year, reached the point in its orbit where it’s nearest to the sun on January 13.

For the first time in 160,000 years, the comet was visible to the naked eye and was spotted by keen observers from the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the evening of January 26.

The C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) comet photographed from the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Picture: Scott Glynn

Scott Glynn snapped a stunning photo of the spectacle about 10.30pm that night.

“We kept on having that mountain fog come in and come out. So the total time I had to capture it was probably only three or probably five minutes tops. There was a very small window of opportunity,” he said.

“There was a lot of excitement. Everyone started to get their little photos or started to see it. A lot of people that were up there didn’t know what was going on.”

The comet originated from the Oort Cloud, which is a giant spherical shell that scientists believe surrounds the solar system.

Astronomer Martin George said the comet’s orbit was “extremely elongated” and it would be “hundreds of thousands of years before it returns”.

Astronomer Martin George.

“This exact period is impossible to determine because it’s on a very nearly parabolic orbit, which basically means that it’s almost an open-ended orbit with a closed end of a curve near the sun,” Dr George said.

“We’re not going to see it again in our lifetimes.”

According to Dr George, it’s unlikely the comet will be visible again this week. But he said if people wanted to attempt to get a glimpse of it, their best opportunity would be to look to the southwest skies about 9.30pm.

“Find Venus and look well to the left of it,” he said.

Dr George advised stargazers to base themselves in an area without light pollution or other obstructions.