NASA astronaut Don Pettit has snapped a striking shot of the super-bright comet racing past our planet for the first time in 160,000 years, as it lit up the night skies across the globe.

Astronaut Don Pettit took this stunning photo of a nearby comet from the International Space Station

January 2025 hosts extraordinary celestial events, including the rare appearance of Comet G3 ATLAS, visible once every 160,000 years. Optimal viewing

Photographer Josh Dury captured rare Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) in a dramatic 'once-in-a-lifetime' image after a challenging chase across UK skies at dusk.

January 13, 2025, as Comet G3 ATLAS (C/2024) reaches its peak brightness. This once-in-a-lifetime spectacle marks the comet's closest approach to the Sun, bringing it within 8.7 million miles of the Sun at its perihelion.