Fragmenting comet C/2025 K1 to come closest to Earth in November
Heads up, skywatchers: Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), first spotted this May, is making its closest pass by Earth on November 25.
After swinging close to the sun last month, it broke into several fragments—so you'll be looking for fragments, not a single bright streak.
What's happening with the comet?
The breakup happened after the comet got super close to the sun and suddenly brightened. Its coma even shifted from green to golden, hinting at some cool chemical changes.
Right now, those fragments are hanging out in the Leo constellation and shining at magnitude 9.9 (so not visible without help).
How can you spot it?
You won't see these pieces with your naked eye—but grab a decent telescope or strong binoculars and use an astronomy app to track Leo this month for your best shot.
Why does this approach matter?
On November 25, the fragments will cruise within 37 million miles of Earth—that's about halfway between us and the sun.
It's a rare chance to catch a breaking-up comet before its pieces drift farther into space.