Comet ATLAS Disintegrates After Close Encounter with the Sun

The Kreutz sungrazer, expected to shine brightly, was destroyed during its perilous journey near the Sun.

Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1), also known as the 'Halloween comet,' disintegrated after passing just 750,000 miles from the Sun.
Astronomers had anticipated that the comet could become as bright as Venus, but it did not survive its close solar approach.
The comet was part of the Kreutz sungrazer family, known for their risky orbits that often lead to destruction by the Sun's intense heat.
NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory captured the comet's final moments as it broke apart and vanished.
Comet ATLAS was discovered in September 2024 and had been closely monitored by astronomers hoping for a spectacular celestial display.