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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                  2025 January 26   
      A dark sloping hill is seen at the bottom with a bright comet with many   
      tails visible above it, taking up most of the frame. The tails closest   
        to the slope are the most dim. Please see the explanation for more   
                               detailed information.   
      
                         The Many Tails of Comet G3 ATLAS   
      Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Ma+íek (FZU, Czech Academy of Sciences)   
                                   & Jakub Ku+Ö+ík   
      
      Explanation: Why does this comet have so many tails? C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)   
      has developed several long and intricate tails visible from Earth's   
      southern hemisphere over the past two weeks. Many observers reported   
      seeing the impressive comet without any optical aid above the western   
      horizon just after sunset. At least six different tails appear in the   
      featured image captured five days ago from the dark skies above Paranal   
      Observatory in Chile. One possible cause for the multiple tails is dust   
      and gas being expelled from the comet's rotating nucleus. The outward   
      push of the Sun's complex solar wind may also play a role. The huge   
      iceberg-like nucleus of Comet ATLAS appears to have broken up near its   
      closest approach to the Sun two weeks ago. Unfortunately, Comet ATLAS   
      and its tails are expected to fade significantly over the coming weeks.   
      
        Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?   
                                    (post 1995)   
                        Tomorrow's picture: half dome stars   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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