We won't see it again for another 600,000 years: the final photo of the main comet of 2025 has been released (image included).

Comet C/2024 G3, referred to by some scientists as the main comet of 2025, is currently the brightest comet of this year. It was discovered in April 2024, and initial estimates indicated that it was approaching the Sun for the first time in 135,000 to 160,000 years. However, these estimates were later revised, revealing that this icy object is actually coming close to the Sun for the first time in approximately 600,000 years in January 2025. At the end of February, astronomers using the SOAR ground telescope captured the latest image of Comet C/2024 G3 as it departs the inner Solar System to return to its outskirts, as reported by Live Science.

Comet C/2024 G3 reached its perihelion, or the closest point to the Sun in its orbit, on January 13, 2025. At that moment, it was approximately 13 million km away from the Sun. The comet's apparent magnitude peaked at minus 3.8, indicating that it was a very bright object visible from Earth. For comparison, the brightest planet visible from Earth, Venus, has an apparent magnitude of minus 4.8. Currently, C/2024 G3 is considered the brightest comet of this year, with some scientists even labeling it the main comet of 2025.

After its close approach to the Sun, the comet began to break apart slightly due to the Sun's heat, as it is an icy object. This led to the appearance of a bright coma (the gas envelope surrounding the comet's nucleus) and two comet tails. The comet now appears less bright as it moves away from us. It is believed that this comet will return to the Sun, provided it does not disintegrate on its journey, only in 600,000 years. Currently, the comet's apparent magnitude is plus 8, indicating that it is very faint. The lower the apparent magnitude, the brighter the celestial object appears.

The image of the comet flying against a backdrop of stars shows that its appearance has changed following its close encounter with the Sun. One of the most notable features is the evaporated material from the comet's icy solid core. As the comet approaches the Sun, it heats up, and its icy material transitions from solid to gaseous form. This process creates long tails and a coma.

The image reveals the coma of the comet, which obscures its nucleus. Two tails can also be seen extending from the nucleus. The upper tail is a dust trail composed of heavier dust particles illuminated by reflected sunlight. The lower tail consists of gases that glow due to ionization. This tail points in a different direction than the first because it is influenced by the Sun's magnetic field.