A New ATLAS Comet, Now Golden After Sun Encounter

Fresh images of the “other” ATLAS comet, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), indicate that it has cultivated a luminous gold tinge subsequent to moving through its nearest location to the sun. Furthermore, scientists aren’t entirely certain of the reasoning behind this transformation.(Image credit: Dan Bartlett)

Recent photographs highlight that a newly spotted comet, referred to as the “other ATLAS,” has morphed into a radiant gold streak after enduring a neighboring journey to the sun — an adventure that numerous specialists assumed would be the comet’s demise.

The comet, recognized as C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), was detected back in May by sky watchers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which investigates the night sky for shifting celestial bodies utilizing telescopes located in Hawaii, Chile, and South Africa. The object has mostly flown under the radar until the present moment, mostly because of the current excitement encompassing the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which was unearthed by ATLAS astronomers in early July, and Comet Lemmon, which has been distinctly noticeable in the night sky over the past several weeks.

C/2025 K1 attained its closest proximity to the sun, or perihelion, on October 8, advancing to a minimum separation of 31 million miles (50 million kilometers) from our solar hub — nearly four times closer than 3I/ATLAS managed during its own perihelion on October 29. In light of the severe gravitational stress from this adjacent passage, many experts anticipated that C/2025 K1 would be shattered, according to Spaceweather.com.

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On October 29, concurrently as 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion, astrophotographer Dan Bartlett captured a magnificent image of C/2025 K1 from June Lake in California. The picture illustrates the comet showcasing a noticeable gold radiance and a lengthy tail that seems as though it has been swayed by the solar gale — akin to Comet Lemmon, which recently experienced its tail shredded into fragments.

“This comet was not projected to endure its October 8th perihelion,” Bartlett communicated to Spaceweather.com. “But it survived, and presently it is exhibiting a red/brown/gold hue infrequently observed in comets.” The identical distinct pigmentation was detected by at least two additional photographers, residing in California and Arizona.

2/2025 K1 (ATLAS) accomplished its nearest situation to the sun on October 8, drawing more than four times closer to our home star contrasted to 3I/ATLAS.

Comets generally manifest as white because the sunlight they reflect includes all frequencies of visible light. Conversely, when particular chemical compounds are present within the sphere of ice, gas, and dust encompassing the comet, recognized as the coma, they can soak up definitive frequencies of light, compelling the comet to shine with an alternative shade.

For instance, various noteworthy comets have turned verdant over recent years — including Comet Nishimura, the explosive “devil comet” 12P/Pons-Brooks and the suitably titled “green comet” C/2022 E3 — resulting from the existence of either dicarbon or cyanide within their respective comas. Certain comets can similarly exhibit a blue coloration if their comas hold carbon monoxide or ammonia, which may be taking place to 3I/ATLAS, per recent observations. Although, the golden shade of C/2025 K1 is significantly less frequent.

In a current blog entry, astronomer David Schleicher, who has been examining C/2025 K1 from the Lowell Observatory situated in Arizona, noted that the comet has a striking scarcity of carbon-possessing molecules, for example, dicarbon, carbon monoxide, and cyanide. Merely two other recognized comets have ever featured fewer of these molecules, he stated.

The “devil comet” 12P/Pons-Brooks was amongst several comets that have lately displayed a green hue. This photograph was obtained amidst its solar flyby in 2024.

This scarcity of carbon-possessing molecules is the most probable explanation for the comet’s gold coloration, but “we don’t know precisely why,” Spaceweather.com representatives expressed. But it may additionally bear some connection to its recent solar proximity or its comparatively reduced proportion of gas to dust, they expanded.

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C/2025 K1 presently possesses an apparent magnitude of 9, which is equally as luminous as 3I/ATLAS succeeding an unforeseen brightening occurrence that materialized amid its transit by the sun. Both objects are excessively faint to spot with the unaided eye, yet they may be perceived with a respectable telescope or a set of stargazing binoculars.

If you desire to observe it personally, C/2025 K1 is positioned amidst the constellations Virgo and Leo in the eastern expanse, and it is most distinctly noticeable shortly prior to sunrise, as reported by Spaceweather.com. It will accomplish its nearest vicinity to Earth on November 25, implying it will potentially continue to be visible until early December.

Harry BakerSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff Writer

Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior and paleontology. His recent work on the solar maximum won “best space submission” at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the “top scoop” category at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He also writes Live Science’s weekly Earth from space series.

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