New images show the comet C/2025 K1 (Atlas) disintegrating in space

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) is a non-periodic comet that was discovered in May 2025 by the ATLAS system. Originating from the Oort cloud, it passed close to the Sun on October 8, 2025, and did not survive, as it disintegrated into four fragments.

Composed of ice and dust, this comet faced extreme conditions. As it passed close to our star, it was subjected to strong gravity and extremely powerful solar winds. But its tragic fate allowed astronomers to observe its fragmentation into several pieces.

Indeed, on November 11, 2025, astronomers at the Asiago Observatory in Italy observed this comet and saw two fragments. Subsequently, astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy saw three fragments and possibly a fourth, as he stated in a press release.

But on January 28, 2026, new images of this event were unveiled. Captured on November 11 and December 6 by the Gemini North telescope in Chile, they highlight the four pieces from this comet, with significant brightness.

However, while this spectacle is impressive, it could happen again in the future. Indeed, comets like C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) are numerous in the Oort cloud, and there may be billions of them. Thus, this could help astronomers to better understand their behavior, but also to learn more about their composition and trajectory in our solar system.