New images show that a newly discovered comet, known as C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), has turned into a stunning golden ribbon after its close pass by the Sun. Many experts thought this approach would be the end of the comet.
Discovered in May by astronomers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which uses telescopes in Hawaii, Chile, and South Africa, C/2025 K1 remained relatively unnoticed until recently. The buzz around other comets, like the interstellar 3I/ATLAS and Comet Lemmon, overshadowed it.
On October 8, C/2025 K1 reached its closest point to the Sun, coming within about 31 million miles (50 million kilometers). That’s over four times closer than 3I/ATLAS during its perihelion on October 29. Many experts were surprised that C/2025 K1 survived this dangerous encounter, as noted by Spaceweather.com.
Astrophotographer Dan Bartlett captured an amazing shot of C/2025 K1 from June Lake in California. The image reveals a comet radiating a unique golden hue, with a long tail shaped by solar winds. Experts had previously thought it would be torn apart by the Sun’s gravity.
“This comet was not expected to survive,” Bartlett shared with Spaceweather.com. “But here it is, glowing in a red, brown, and golden color that is quite rare for comets.” This distinct coloration has also been observed by other photographers in California and Arizona.
Typically, comets appear white because they reflect a spectrum of sunlight. However, if their surrounding gases absorb certain light wavelengths, they can display different colors. Green comets have become more common recently due to the presence of chemicals like dicarbon or cyanide. Comets may even appear blue if they contain carbon monoxide or ammonia. For C/2025 K1, its unusual golden color is uncommon.
In a recent blog post, astronomer David Schleicher highlighted C/2025 K1’s surprising lack of carbon-bearing molecules. He noted that very few comets share this characteristic. The depletion of these molecules is likely responsible for its golden glow, though experts are still not entirely sure why.
Now, C/2025 K1 shines with an apparent magnitude of 9, making it as bright as 3I/ATLAS after its own unexpected brightening event. Although too dim for the naked eye, it can easily be seen with a decent telescope or binoculars.
Located between the constellations Virgo and Leo, C/2025 K1 is best viewed shortly before sunrise. It will reach its nearest point to Earth on November 25, remaining visible for some time into early December, offering stargazers a unique opportunity to witness this remarkable comet.
