The highly anticipated Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), nicknamed the “Halloween Comet,” met a fiery end during a close encounter with the Sun on October 28, 2024. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), captured the comet’s final moments as it fragmented and disintegrated. This dramatic event dashed hopes of observing the comet during the Halloween season.
Comet’s Demise Confirmed by Experts
Karl Battams, principal investigator for the LASCO instrument suite on SOHO and lead for NASA’s Sungrazer Project, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the comet likely consisted of a loose collection of debris even before entering SOHO’s view. This fragile structure made it highly susceptible to the intense solar radiation and gravitational forces during its close approach.
Dashed Hopes for Skywatchers
The comet’s disintegration disappointed skywatchers who had hoped to witness a spectacular celestial display in the days leading up to Halloween. Initially discovered on September 27, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Hawaii, the comet generated excitement due to predictions of its potential naked-eye visibility as it reached perihelion – its closest point to the Sun.
A Perilous Journey Too Close to the Sun
Comet C/2024 S1 approached within 1% of the Earth-Sun distance during its perihelion. This extreme proximity proved fatal, as the comet succumbed to the Sun’s intense heat and gravity. NASA confirmed on X that the comet had been breaking apart in the days leading up to its closest approach, further highlighting its vulnerability.
Contrasting Fate of Another Comet
In contrast to C/2024 S1’s demise, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinan-Atlas) survived its perihelion on September 27, 2024. Discovered by China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory in January 2023, this comet, originating from the Oort Cloud, reached a perihelion distance of roughly one-third the Earth-Sun distance and became visible to the unaided eye. This difference in perihelion distance likely played a crucial role in the contrasting outcomes of the two comets.
Kreutz Sungrazers: A Family of Sun-Grazing Comets
Comet C/2024 S1 belonged to the Kreutz sungrazer family, a group of comets characterized by their extremely close approaches to the Sun. Named after astronomer Heinrich Kreutz, who first identified their shared orbital characteristics, these comets are believed to be fragments of a larger parent comet that broke apart centuries ago. Due to their small size and perilous trajectories, Kreutz sungrazers often disintegrate or collide with the Sun during their perihelion passages, though some do survive.
Notable Sungrazer Survivors
Comet Lovejoy, discovered in 2011, is a famous example of a sungrazer that survived its perihelion, albeit briefly. It emitted a vibrant blue-green glow before its nucleus disintegrated a few days later. Another notable survivor is Comet Ikeya-Seki, discovered in 1965. This comet reached a remarkable magnitude of -11, nearly as bright as a half-Moon, after its solar encounter.
A Lost Opportunity for a Dazzling Display
Had Comet C/2024 S1 survived, it was projected to reach a magnitude of -7, surpassing even Venus in brightness. While its disintegration prevented a spectacular celestial show, the Halloween Comet’s dramatic demise serves as a reminder of the dynamic and often destructive nature of the solar system.
