Photographer captures rare Comet G3 ATLAS from UK in dramatic 'once-in-a-lifetime' image

Comet g3 atlas in an orange sky at dusk above water, an inset image shows the comet close up.

In a race against time, clouds and the setting sun, photographer Josh Dury captured this dramatic photograph of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) at dusk on Jan. 15.

The comet is a rare visitor to our cosmic neighborhood, orbiting our sun every 160,000 years or so. It reached peak brilliance this week after surviving its closest approach to the sun — perihelion — passing within 8.7 million miles (14 million km) of our star on Jan. 13.