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Comet lights up Australian skies for first time in 160,000 years this week

The stars have aligned for celestial lovers, as an incredibly rare comet is set to dazzle Australia’s skies this week. Image via NASA Astronaut Don Pettit.

The stars have aligned for celestial lovers, who are in for a treat this week with an incredibly rare comet set to dazzle Australia’s skies for the first time in around 160,000 years. Visible from Australia and New Zealand until January 23rd, the time is ripe for Adelaide stargazers to feast their eyes on the celestial spectacle.

As one of the brightest comets of 2025, comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) has just finished passing close to the sun as of January 13th, and is now projected to emerge from the sun’s glare and be visible across the evening skies of the Southern Hemisphere.

According to NASA, the brightness of a comet is immensely difficult to predict. In fact, since its discovery in April 2024, many astronomers have been cautious to circulate the news about comet C/2024 G3’s arrival in case expectations were raised too high.

But, Australia’s stargazers are in luck, because after surviving its collision course with the sun, C/2024 G3 reached a magnitude of -3.4, becoming one of the brightest comets seen in the last 20 years, and the third brightest ever recorded by NASA’s space-based solar observatory.

This means that astrophotographers have been able to capture the comet during daylight hours in the last few days. Now, as its trajectory travels away from Earth, C/2024 G3 will be visible for the next few evenings after sunset.

How to spot comet C/2024 G3

After passing the sun on January 13th, the comet was initially difficult to spot due to its proximity to the sun’s brightness. However, it has since grown brighter in the last few days, becoming most visible in the evenings during and after sunset.

If you’re eager to witness the comet before it escapes visibility, you’ll need to find a location with a clear view of the western horizon. Get to your chosen location prior to sunset to increase your chances of seeing it. You can plan ahead by using apps like Night Sky or Stellarium to assess the comet’s trajectory and what time the sun will set from your viewing point.

The most opportune time for observation will come right after the sun sinks beyond the horizon. The sky will be too bright to spot the comet at first, but C/2024 G3 should eventually reveal itself low to the horizon and be visible through binoculars, cameras, and even the naked eye.

Remember to exercise caution when viewing the comet through binoculars, as the comet’s close position to the sun could be harmful to your eyes.

As time passes, the comet will travel farther away from the sun and thus appear higher up in the sky. You might think this would make it easier to spot, but keep in mind that the comet will be dimming, so now is the best time to try and see it for yourself.

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