NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a rare moment involving comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) as it begins to break up. Such events are not observed often, mainly because comet fragmentation is difficult to predict and even more difficult to observe at the right time. The results were later published in the journal Icarus.Interestingly, the comet was not part of the original plan. Changes in the observing schedule led the team to select this instead. The decision finally offers a closer look at how such breakups unfold, giving researchers more detail than they typically get from similar events.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope documents the initial disintegration of comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)
The research team, which included scientists from Auburn University, originally intended to observe another comet. However, due to the limitations of their technology, they decided to observe C/2025 K1 (ATLAS). As NASA reports, the research team conducted its observations over three days: 8 to 10 November 2025.While reviewing images taken of the comet, John Noonan, co-investigator on the research team, noticed something unusual. Instead of one bright point of light there were many. The research team’s review of the images revealed that the comet had indeed broken into at least four separate pieces. Each of these fragments had its own “coma”, which is the gas and dust that normally surrounds a comet’s “core”.
Hubble Space Telescope tracks comet’s three-day progress
The sequence of images shows how the breakup unfolded over time. On the first day, several bright spots appeared close together. By the second day, the largest piece had already split into two. On the third day, the pieces moved far and wide following the same path.Hubble’s sharp imaging made it possible to clearly distinguish these fragments. At the same time, ground-based telescopes could detect only faint, blurry spots of light. Researchers believe the fragmentation actually began about eight days before Hubble captured it. During the observation period, one of the smaller fragments continued to break apart.
comet fragmentation reveals early solar system material Dennis Bodewitz says
According to principal investigator Dennis Bodewitz, comets are leftovers from the early solar system. They formed billions of years ago, and while their outer layers have changed over time, their interiors may still contain more original material. When a comet breaks apart, its interior material is exposed. This gives scientists a chance to study what lies beneath the surface and better understand how the solar system formed.One detail that stood out in this case was the delay between the rupture and the increase in brightness seen from Earth. Normally, freshly exposed ice quickly turns into gas, making the comet appear brighter. Here, that spark happened later than expected. Researchers suggest this may be due to the dust layer forming earlier or the heat needing more time to reach deeper layers before initiating visible activity.
Creation and future analysis
Early observations from ground-based telescopes show that C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) contains less carbon than many other comets. This is not common and may provide clues about where it formed and how it has changed over time. Further analysis is expected using Hubble’s instruments, including the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. These instruments can provide a closer look at the comet’s chemical composition.
Comet’s current position
After breaking up, the fragments of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) are now moving away from the Sun. They are currently about 250 million miles from Earth and located within the constellation Pisces. The comet is following a path that will take it out of the solar system. Based on current estimates, it is not expected to return.
