Another ATLAS marvel emerges: See fractured Comet C/2025 K1 flee the Sun live tonight, here’s how

Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured this image of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS). (Image: Gianluca Masi, Virtual Telescope Project)

Skywatchers are waiting for a rare live view as Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) continues its escape from the sun. The object split into several large pieces after its close solar pass, and observers will soon see its changing form in real time.

Livestream Shows Fractured Comet ATLAS Tonight
The Virtual Telescope Project will stream the comet tonight. The show begins at 10 p.m. EST on November 24. The feed starts at 0300 GMT on November 25. Robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, will track the comet. Weather conditions may influence the final clarity.

The project will share telescopic views across the entire session. The comet remains too faint for unaided eyes. Small telescopes will still reveal the fragments clearly. Long-exposure images may help capture the softer outer glow.

Comet C/2025 K1 Broke After Sun Encounter
The comet was seen moving towards the sun on May 24. It likely came from the distant Oort Cloud. This region holds many icy bodies beyond the planets. The object reached perihelion on October 8. It passed only 31 million miles from the sun then.

Astronomers saw the comet fracture on November 11. At least three large pieces then separated suddenly. The heat near perihelion likely weakened the central nucleus. The structure failed soon after the closest pass.

The comet is not related to the visitor 3I/ATLAS. Both objects only share the ATLAS discovery tag. Each was found by the NASA-funded alert system.

How to Find Comet ATLAS in the Sky
The fragments now drift near the Big Dipper region. This area sits within the constellation Ursa Major. Small backyard telescopes can track the faint pieces easily. Photographers may capture longer trails with extended exposures.

Guides for comet imaging remain available for astrophotographers. Equipment lists before Black Friday also continue to help viewers. The comet offers a rare sight for steady observers this week.