"A comet, dubbed C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), spectacularly broke apart into three huge chunks and anybody with an eight-inch telescope or bigger can catch the resulting fireworks show for the next several weeks, according to Sky & Telescope. The comet shouldn't be confused with interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. K1/ATLAS originated from within the furthest stretches of the solar system, and not interstellar space. Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope 2.0 Project, which allows public access to remotely-controlled telescopes,"
"captured incredible pictures of the comet on Tuesday, clearly showing that the comet's nucleus has broken into three fragments. In the pictures, the fragments glow like a car's halogen headlights with their light piercing the gray black darkness. Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS experienced a dramatic fragmentation event, becoming one of the most interesting objects of its kind seen in recent years,"
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) broke into three large fragments that are now bright enough for observers with eight-inch or larger telescopes to view for several weeks. The nucleus fragmented after two light outbursts detected in late October and early November following the comet's October 8 perihelion. The object originated in the Oort Cloud and was first detected in May by survey telescopes participating in the ATLAS search program. Remote telescope images show the fragments glowing intensely against dark sky, and the comet displays the typical gas-and-dust tail produced as volatile ices sublimate under solar heating.
Read at futurism.com
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