NASA has released a captivating video of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) disappearing behind a hill, captured on January 22nd in the Araucanía Region of central Chile. The video, compiled from photographs taken with a standard camera, showcases the comet's apparent movement across the sky, a result of Earth's rotation.
The comet, discovered by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in April 2024, reached its closest point to the Sun on July 13th, becoming visible to the naked eye and earning the title of the brightest comet of 2025. As the comet approaches the Sun, its ice and dust vaporize, creating a characteristic tail.
Comets are remnants from the formation of our solar system over 4.6 billion years ago, composed of dust, rocks, and ice. Their presence provides valuable insights into the early stages of our solar system's evolution.