'Brightest comet of 2025' likely to be closest to Earth on January 13

G3 comet is slated to reach perihelion—its closest point to the sun—on 13 January 2025, being 13.5 million kilometres away from the sun
An undated image. — Unsplash
An undated image. — Unsplash

As people fond of celestial events were treated to many spectacular occurrences in 2024, the trend of extraterrestrial happenings seems to persist in 2025. 

Although it's just the outset of the year, the brightest comet of the year has reportedly emerged on the horizon. Named C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), the upcoming comet has prompted stargazers worldwide to brace for its arrival in early January.

As outlined by The Express Tribune, the G3 comet is slated to reach perihelion—its closest point to the sun—on 13 January 2025, being 13.5 million kilometres away from the sun. The comet is expected to come closest to planet Earth the same day, amusing eager sky observers with its brightest mesmerising views.

According to astronomers, the icy traveller's visibility will be most vivid in the Southern Hemisphere. If it reaches closest to the sun, it is predicted to shine as brightly as Venus, achieving a magnitude of -4.5.

To the dismay of those awaiting it, the comet's survival is uncertain given its possible disintegration after getting too close to the burning star.

Nick James, director of the British Astronomical Association's comet section, explained, “It will be strongly heated and may not survive. But if it does, it could become an impressive object in the evening sky from the Southern Hemisphere after perihelion.”

The orbital movement of the G3 comet showed that it last visited the inner solar system around 160,000 years ago, which is likely a testament to its survival of a similar encounter in the past.