Hubble snapshots real-time breakup of distant comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS
TL;DR
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured, in real time, the fragmentation of the long‑period comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) after its near‑Sun passage, identifying at least four fragments over three days (Nov. 8–10, 2025) with one fragment fragmenting again; breakup began about a week earlier as heating and stress from perihelion likely exposed dust layers. K1, ~8 km across and from the distant Oort Cloud, was discovered by ATLAS in May 2025. The observations, described in a 2026 Icarus paper, offer rare insight into the physics of comet surfaces and dust production during disintegration.
Topics:sciencespace#c2025-k1-atlas#comet-fragmentation#hubble-space-telescope#oort-cloud#perihelion#space
- Hubble Space Telescope accidentally witnesses comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaking apart Space
- NASA’s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up NASA Science (.gov)
- Hubble catches rare view of a comet crumbling Engadget
- Exploding Comet Is Spotted by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope The New York Times
- Hubble has seen a 'strange' comet cracking open over Earth – completely by accident BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Space