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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope accidentally captured the rare moment of a comet, Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), breaking apart into at least four pieces over three days in November. The odds of Hubble observing this fragmentation event were extremely slim, but the footage provides a unique window into the primordial material within the comet’s core that is usually concealed.
Why it matters
Comets are remnants from the dawn of the solar system, and observing their fragmentation can offer valuable insights into the early formation of planets and the solar system. This accidental observation by Hubble gives scientists a rare opportunity to study the process of comet disintegration up close.
The details
Hubble was unable to view its initial comet target due to “technical constraints”, so it instead focused on Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), also known as K1. Over three days in November, Hubble recorded K1 breaking apart into at least four distinct pieces, each with its own coma. The comet had just swung inside Mercury’s orbit, where the heat and stress can trigger disintegration for long-period comets. Hubble’s sharp view allowed scientists to trace the fragments’ paths and raised new questions, such as the lag between the breakup and the bright outbursts seen from Earth.
In November 2025, Hubble recorded the fragmentation of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) over three days.The comet had just swung inside Mercury’s orbit about eight days before Hubble’s observation.
The players
Hubble Space Telescope
NASA’s space telescope that has been observing the universe since 1990.
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)
Also known as Comet K1, this long-period comet was observed breaking apart by the Hubble Space Telescope.
John Noonan
A physicist at Auburn University who commented on the rarity of Hubble capturing a comet’s fragmentation.
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What they’re saying
“Never before has Hubble caught a fragmenting comet this close to when it actually fell apart.”
— John Noonan, Physicist, Auburn University
What’s next
Researchers plan to continue studying the fragments of Comet K1 as it drifts away from the solar system, in order to gain more insights into the composition and early formation of comets.
The takeaway
This accidental observation by the Hubble Space Telescope provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study the process of comet fragmentation, which is rarely captured so closely. The footage offers a rare window into the primordial material within comets, which can shed light on the early formation of the solar system.