On 11 November and 6 December 2025, the Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) soared in the skies above Maunakea, Hawai‘i, where Gemini North captured it in action! Gemini North is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NSF NOIRLab.
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)’s nucleus started breaking apart as early as October 2025. Three of the suspected fragments are visible in this image. Each piece makes an exciting show as it fluctuates in brightness, density, and position from night to night. You can view images of this here.
C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) originated in the Oort cloud and surprisingly survived its closest approach to the Sun in October 2025. But now that it has experienced the intense heat and gravity of the Sun, it’s struggling to hold together, leading to the crumbling that we’re witnessing now. View the trajectory of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) here.
Credit:
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/B. Bolin
Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Acknowledgments: PI: Bryce Bolin (Eureka Scientific)
About the ImageId:iotw2604aType:ObservationRelease date:Jan. 28, 2026, noonSize:1527 x 1222 pxAbout the Object