Hubble Observes Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) Fragmentation
The Hubble Space Telescope captured the disintegration of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) into multiple fragments over three days in November 2025.
In November 2025, the Hubble Space Telescope documented the fragmentation of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) over three consecutive days. Initially, the telescope was set to observe a different comet, but a change in plans led to the unexpected capture of this rare event.
Hubble's images from November 8, 9, and 10 revealed that the comet had broken into at least four distinct pieces, each surrounded by its own coma—the cloud of gas and dust enveloping a comet's nucleus. Prior to fragmentation, C/2025 K1 was estimated to be approximately 5 miles in diameter.
The comet, now a collection of fragments, is located about 249 million miles from Earth and is on a trajectory out of the solar system, making its return unlikely. Observations like these provide valuable insights into the behavior of long-period comets and their tendency to split apart.
The European Space Agency's upcoming Comet Interceptor mission aims to study a long-period comet up close later this decade, further enhancing our understanding of these celestial bodies.