The Brightest Comet In 20 Years Is Set To Dazzle Australian Skies This Week

An extraordinary interstellar marvel is crossing our skies, and skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere have a front-row seat.

Ria Lawrence - Senior Staff Writer • January 16, 2025

A silhouette of a man gazing at the sky as a comet streaks across the sky — Image: Shutterstock

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The holiday season may be behind us, but the excitement isn’t over yet. If spotting a rare celestial event was on your 2025 bucket list, you’re in luck. Hot on the heels of the Taurid Meteor Shower, the brightest comet in nearly 20 years is set to light up Australian skies this week, and it could be as easy to spot as Venus. Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) orbits the sun just once every 160,000 years, so its upcoming appearance will be a special treat for skywatchers. The comet reached its closest point to the sun earlier this week and should be visible to the naked eye over the next few days. Here’s everything you need to know.

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)

Comet ATLAS streaking across the night sky, with the Milky Way in the background — Image: Raghuvamsh Chavali / Space.com

Comet G3 was first discovered in April of last year by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Comets are icy cosmic objects made up of frozen gases, rock, and dust that orbit the Sun, according to NASA. Dubbed a “sun-skirter”, Comet G3 will pass within 14 million kilometres from the Sun, a remarkably close distance in astronomical terms.

Excitingly, early images of the comet suggest it may be even brighter than comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which was visible over our skies just a few months ago and was the brightest in 27 years.

When will it be visible in Australia?

The comet will be visible in Australia from January 16 to January 23. Although the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted rain and stormy skies for the eastern states, astronomers anticipate the comet will grow brighter as it gets closer to the sun, appearing a little higher in the sky each evening, so clear views could likely be possible through the end of the month. The comet will first become visible in the evening sky after sunset, low in the west-southwest.

Where and how can I see it?

The comet will be visible to the naked eye but a pair of binoculars will enhance the viewing experience. Look for a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon, just to the right of due west, toward the south. You can also drive out to a dark sky place in your area such as the incredible Warrumbungle National Park or the first-ever urban night sky place in the Southern Hemisphere right here in Sydney.