Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) splits into three after sun encounter – see stunning images here

Ever wonder what happens when a comet nears the sun? Astronomers observed comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaking apart after its close solar approach. The comet, discovered in May of 2025, brightened as it neared the sun in early October. Solar heating turned frozen gases into a reflective cloud, forming a visible coma. The solar wind pushed these gases backward, creating the classic tail of comets.

How Did C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) Fragment?
Why did the comet break into multiple pieces so quickly? Observations indicate that the comet’s nucleus became unstable after passing near the sun on October 8. By November 11, astronomers using the 1.82-metre Copernicus telescope at Italy’s Asiago Observatory saw it split into three large fragments. "Two fairly similar pieces are separated by about 2,000 kilometres," Mazzotta Epifani of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics reported. He added there may be a third smaller, fainter fragment nearby.

Who Captured the Dramatic Cometary Breakup?
How did astronomers track the fragments over time? Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured images on November 12–13 showing a large section falling from the sunward nucleus. "The animation shows how fragments evolved within 24 hours," Masi told Space.com. He credited good seeing conditions and high-resolution equipment for recording these rare details.

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

Why Is This Comet Important to Science?
What can C/2025 K1 reveal about our solar system? Believed to come from the Kuiper Belt, the comet may have been visiting the inner solar system for the first time. Its disintegration offers scientists a chance to study pristine material from the solar system’s formation. It is unrelated to interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, despite the similar discovery programme name.