Newly Discovered Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) May Outshine Venus in Late October 2024!
A new candidate for the brightest comet of the year and the brightest Kreutz sungrazer since 1965 has just been discovered. You can already track it with the free Sky Tonight app. Just type C/2024 S1 in the search bar and tap the target icon to find it in your sky. In this article, we'll give you all the latest details about this remarkable comet.
Contents
- What we know about Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) (former name A11bP7I)
- How to see Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)
- Concerns about C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)
- C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) Conclusion: a new bright comet for October 2024?
What we know about Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) (former name A11bP7I)
Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) was discovered on September 27, 2024, by the ATLAS survey in Hawaii. It was given the temporary designation A11bP7I while awaiting official confirmation. On October 1, it has been confirmed and officially named C/2024 S1 (ATLAS). The name of the comet contains data about where and when the comet was first seen:
- The letter C indicates a non-periodic comet – comets of this type originate from the Oort cloud and may pass through the Solar System only once or take from 200 to thousands of years to orbit the Sun;
- 2024 S1 means the comet was discovered in 2024, in the second half of September (this corresponds to the letter S in the IAU comet naming system), and was the first such object discovered in this period;
- ATLAS means the discovery was made using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope.
This comet is thought to belong to the Kreutz sungrazer family, a group of comets that pass very close to the Sun. Historically, Kreutz sungrazers, such as Ikeya-Seki (1965) and Lovejoy (2011), have often become particularly bright, visible even in daylight. If C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) follows a similar path, it could reach a magnitude of -5 to -7, making it the brightest Kreutz sungrazer comet since 1965.
At the moment, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) is about 1 AU from the Sun and 1.3 AU from Earth. Its tail spans about 2 arcseconds. Its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, is expected on October 28, 2024. Interestingly, this date is just a week after the perihelion of the famous Ikeya-Seki comet in 1965, which means visibility conditions could be very similar. However, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) is expected to be slightly dimmer.
How to see Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)
Currently, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) has a magnitude of around 12, visible through small telescopes. The comet is located in the constellation Hydra, easier to view from the Southern Hemisphere before dawn. For Northern Hemisphere observers, it sits lower on the horizon.
To track C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), you can use the free Sky Tonight app. Just type C/2024 S1 in the search, tap the target button, and the app will show you the comet’s location on the sky map. For real-time tracking, point your device at the sky and follow the white arrow.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the best time to catch the comet is in the days before perihelion on October 28. In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet may be visible for a few days after perihelion, if it survives. At its closest point to the Sun, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) could reach a magnitude of -5 to -7, making it brighter than Venus, visible to the naked eye even in a pre-dawn sky.
In the meantime, keep an eye on Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, another bright comet putting on a spectacular show. You can read more about it in our dedicated article.
Concerns about C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)
While the excitement is high, there are some concerns about the fate of C/2024 S1 (ATLAS). Here are some of them:
- It may break apart at perihelion
Kreutz sungrazers often break apart as they approach the Sun, due to the intense heat at these extremely close distances. This is a possibility for C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), especially if it turns out to be a smaller comet.
- It could fade
Some observers speculate that C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) might be a smaller fragment of the Kreutz family that’s currently in an outburst, similar to previous sungrazers like C/1945 X1 (du Toit) and C/2012 E2 (SWAN). Both faded as they neared the Sun after initially showing bright activity.
Despite these uncertainties, Kreutz sungrazers have historically been some of the most spectacular comets. Will C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) follow in their footsteps? We’ll have to wait and see! And while you wait, check out our fun quiz to learn more about famous Great Comets from history!
C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) Conclusion: a new bright comet for October 2024?
Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), discovered on September 27, 2024, could become the brightest naked-eye comet of the year and the brightest Kreutz sungrazer since 1965. At its peak, it could reach a magnitude of -5 to -7. Don’t miss your chance to witness it! The comet can already be tracked using Sky Tonight. Also, be sure to check out our article on Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, another comet expected to light up the skies in October. Two comets, one month – catch them both!
