{"id":389028,"date":"2026-03-19T00:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/hubble\/nasas-hubble-unexpectedly-catches-comet-breaking-up\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T00:00:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:00:36","slug":"nasas-hubble-unexpectedly-catches-comet-breaking-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=389028","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Explore Hubble<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Overview<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\n<ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/about-hubble\/\" rel=\"noopener\">About Hubble<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/the-history-of-hubble\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The History of Hubble<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/hubble-timeline\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble Timeline<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/why-have-a-telescope-in-space\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Have a Telescope in Space?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/about-hubble\/hubble-by-the-numbers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble by the Numbers<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/at-the-museum\/\" rel=\"noopener\">At the Museum<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/overview\/faqs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Impact &#038; Benefits<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block 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class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/impacts-and-benefits\/hubbles-cultural-impact\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Cultural Impact<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/impacts-and-benefits\/technology-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology Benefits<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/impacts-and-benefits\/hubbles-impact-on-human-spaceflight\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Impact on Human Spaceflight<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/impacts-and-benefits\/astronomical-community-impacts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astro Community Impacts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" 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height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\n<ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/multimedia\/online-activities\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Online Activities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n<div class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">5 Min Read<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"5934\" height=\"1629\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"A time sequence of three panels side by side. From left to right, the panels are labeled November 8, 2025; November 9, 2025; and November 10, 2025. This series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, was taken over the course of three consecutive days. The sequence shows the progressive disintegration of the comet over this brief period. \n\nEach panel features several bright, fuzzy, blue, streaking lights in a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right of a black background. In the first panel, four comet-like objects appear. The largest is the second from the upper left. In the second panel, the largest object has broken into two pieces. In the third panel, the pieces appear to be moving away from each other along the invisible diagonal line.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5934w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=82&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=211&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=281&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=422&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=110&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=165&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=247&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=329&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=549&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5934px) 100vw, 5934px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\"><figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n<div><figcaption>A series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS).<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Image: NASA, ESA, Dennis Bodewits (AU); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble Space Telescope<\/a> just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S001910352600062X?via%3Dihub\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Icarus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The comet K1, whose full name is C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS)\u2014not to be confused with interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS\u2014was not the original target of the Hubble study.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes the best science happens by accident,\u201d said co-investigator John Noonan, a research professor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auburn.edu\/cosam\/departments\/physics\/index.htm\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Department of Physics<\/a> at Auburn University in Alabama. \u201cThis comet got observed because our original comet was not viewable due to some new technical constraints after we won our proposal. We had to find a new target\u2014and right when we observed it, it happened to break apart, which is the slimmest of slim chances.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5934\" height=\"1629\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A time sequence of three panels side by side. From left to right, the panels are labeled November 8, 2025; November 9, 2025; and November 10, 2025. This series of images from NASAu2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, was taken over the course of three consecutive days. The sequence shows the progressive disintegration of the comet over this brief period. nnEach panel features several bright, fuzzy, blue, streaking lights in a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right of a black background. In the first panel, four comet-like objects appear. The largest is the second from the upper left. In the second panel, the largest object has broken into two pieces. In the third panel, the pieces appear to be moving away from each other along the invisible diagonal line.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5934w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=82&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=211&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=281&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=422&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=110&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=165&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=247&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=329&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=549&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5934px) 100vw, 5934px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS) was taken over the course of three consecutive days: Nov. 8, 9, and 10, 2025. This is the first time Hubble has witnessed a comet so early in the process of breaking up.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Image: NASA, ESA, Dennis Bodewits (AU); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Noonan didn\u2019t know K1 was fragmenting until he viewed the images the day after Hubble took them. \u201cWhile I was taking an initial look at the data, I saw that there were four comets in those images when we only proposed to look at one,\u201d said Noonan. \u201cSo we knew this was something really, really special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is an experiment the researchers always wanted to do with Hubble. They had proposed many Hubble observations to catch a comet breaking up. Unfortunately, these are very difficult to schedule, and they were never successful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe irony is now we\u2019re just studying a regular comet and it crumbles in front of our eyes,\u201d said principal investigator Dennis Bodewits, also a professor in Auburn University\u2019s Department of Physics.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cComets are leftovers of the era of solar system formation, so they\u2019re made of \u2018old stuff\u2019\u2014the primordial materials that made our solar system,\u201d said Bodewits. \u201cBut they are not pristine\u2014they\u2019ve been heated; they\u2019ve been irradiated by the Sun and by cosmic rays. So, when looking at a comet\u2019s composition, the question we always have is, \u2018Is this a primitive property or is this due to evolution?\u2019 By cracking open a comet, you can see the ancient material that has not been processed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hubble caught K1 fragmenting into at least four pieces, each with a distinct coma, the fuzzy envelope of gas and dust that surrounds a comet\u2019s icy nucleus. Hubble cleanly resolved the fragments, but to ground-based telescopes, at the time they only appeared as barely distinguishable, bright blobs.<\/p>\n<p>Hubble\u2019s images were taken just a month after K1\u2019s closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion. The comet\u2019s perihelion was inside Mercury\u2019s orbit, about one-third the distance of the Earth from the Sun. During perihelion, a comet experiences its most intense heating and maximum stress. Just past perihelion is when some <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/comets\/facts\/#h-comet-facts\" rel=\"noopener\">long-period comets<\/a> like K1 tend to fall apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \" style=\"--hds-image-contain-bg:#ffffff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Diagram shows K1\u2019s path. With Sun at center, nearly circular orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars appear against black background. In sharp contrast is K1\u2019s tight parabolic curve, marked by solid, light blue curving line illustrating how K1 swooped toward the Sun from above. It curved around the Sun, coming closest inside Mercury\u2019s orbit, and continued its outbound journey. After passing the Sun, as K1 approached Mercury\u2019s orbit, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope captured the inset image of comet. Five, bright, fuzzy, blue, comet-like objects streak diagonally from upper left to lower right of a black box outlined in white. At outside top of box is label C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS). Outside the right side of box is a white, horizontal line labeled November 10, 2025. To right of this line is a perpendicular, vertical line pointing to a white glow just inside Mercury\u2019s orbit that illustrates K1. To left of this glow, the comet\u2019s outbound path is marked by a dashed gray line that continues off the image.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This diagram shows the path Comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1, took as it swung past the Sun and began its journey out of the solar system. NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope captured the inset image of the fragmenting comet just a month after K1\u2019s closest approach to the Sun.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Illustration: NASA, ESA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Before it fragmented, K1 was likely a bit larger than an average comet, probably around 5 miles across. The team estimates the comet began to disintegrate eight days before Hubble viewed it. Hubble took three 20-second images, one on each day from Nov. 8 through Nov. 10, 2025. As it watched the comet, one of K1\u2019s smaller pieces also broke up.<\/p>\n<p>Because Hubble\u2019s sharp vision can distinguish extremely fine details, the team could trace the history of the fragments back to when they were one piece. That allowed them to reconstruct the timeline. But in doing so, they uncovered a mystery: Why was there a delay between when the comet broke up and when bright outbursts were seen from the ground? When the comet fragmented and exposed fresh ice, why didn\u2019t it brighten almost instantaneously?<\/p>\n<p>The team has some theories. Most of a comet\u2019s brightness is sunlight reflected off of dust grains. But when a comet cracks open, it reveals pure ice. Maybe a layer of dry dust needs to form over the pure ice and then blow off. Or maybe heat needs to get below the surface, build up pressure, and then eject an expanding shell of dust.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNever before has Hubble caught a fragmenting comet this close to when it actually fell apart. Most of the time, it\u2019s a few weeks to a month later. And in this case, we were able to see it just days after,\u201d said Noonan. \u201cThis is telling us something very important about the physics of what\u2019s happening at the comet\u2019s surface. We may be seeing the timescale it takes to form a substantial dust layer that can then be ejected by the gas.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hubble Accidentally Catches Comet Breaking Up\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qc0dfrlA-ew?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center; Lead Producer: Paul Morris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The research team is looking forward to finishing the analysis of the gases to come from the comet. Already, ground-based analysis shows that K1 is chemically very strange\u2014it is significantly depleted in carbon, compared with other comets. Spectroscopic analysis from Hubble\u2019s STIS (<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/observatory\/design\/space-telescope-imaging-spectrograph\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph<\/a>) and COS (<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/observatory\/design\/cosmic-origins-spectrograph\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Cosmic Origins Spectrograph<\/a>) instruments is likely to reveal much more about the composition of K1 and the very origins of our solar system, as NASA\u2019s space telescopes continue to contribute to our understanding of planetary science.<\/p>\n<p>The comet K1 is now a collection of fragments about 250 million miles from Earth. Located in the constellation Pisces, it is heading out of the solar system, not likely to ever return.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating for over three decades and continues to make ground-breaking discoveries that shape our fundamental understanding of the universe. Hubble is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope and mission operations. Lockheed Martin Space, based in Denver, also supports mission operations at Goddard. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, conducts Hubble science operations for NASA.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-social-media hds-social-media--horizontal grid-container grid-container-block nasa-gb-align-center margin-y-0 padding-y-5 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 font-weight-bold hds-module aligncenter wp-block-nasa-blocks-social-media-links\">\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-facebook\">\n<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #4267B2;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-labelledby=\"facebookIconTitle\"><title id=\"facebookIconTitle\">Facebook logo<\/title><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a  class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/NASAHubble\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASAHubble on facebook\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASAHubble<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-twitter\">\n<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #1DA1F2;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a  class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NASAHubble\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASAHubble on twitter\">@NASAHubble<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-instagram\">\n<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #833AB4;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"169.063px\" height=\"169.063px\" viewBox=\"0 0 169.063 169.063\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 169.063 169.063;\" xml:space=\"preserve\" aria-labelledby=\"instagramIconTitle\"><title id=\"instagramIconTitle\">Instagram logo<\/title><g> <path d=\"M122.406,0H46.654C20.929,0,0,20.93,0,46.655v75.752c0,25.726,20.929,46.655,46.654,46.655h75.752 c25.727,0,46.656-20.93,46.656-46.655V46.655C169.063,20.93,148.133,0,122.406,0z M154.063,122.407 c0,17.455-14.201,31.655-31.656,31.655H46.654C29.2,154.063,15,139.862,15,122.407V46.655C15,29.201,29.2,15,46.654,15h75.752 c17.455,0,31.656,14.201,31.656,31.655V122.407z\"\/> <path d=\"M84.531,40.97c-24.021,0-43.563,19.542-43.563,43.563c0,24.02,19.542,43.561,43.563,43.561s43.563-19.541,43.563-43.561 C128.094,60.512,108.552,40.97,84.531,40.97z M84.531,113.093c-15.749,0-28.563-12.812-28.563-28.561 c0-15.75,12.813-28.563,28.563-28.563s28.563,12.813,28.563,28.563C113.094,100.281,100.28,113.093,84.531,113.093z\"\/> <path d=\"M129.921,28.251c-2.89,0-5.729,1.17-7.77,3.22c-2.051,2.04-3.23,4.88-3.23,7.78c0,2.891,1.18,5.73,3.23,7.78 c2.04,2.04,4.88,3.22,7.77,3.22c2.9,0,5.73-1.18,7.78-3.22c2.05-2.05,3.22-4.89,3.22-7.78c0-2.9-1.17-5.74-3.22-7.78 C135.661,29.421,132.821,28.251,129.921,28.251z\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a  class=\"margin-right-2\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/NASAHubble\" aria-label=\"Go to @NASAHubble on instagram\" rel=\"noopener\">@NASAHubble<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-carbon-05 padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tRelated Images &#038; Videos\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5934\" height=\"1629\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A time sequence of three panels side by side. From left to right, the panels are labeled November 8, 2025; November 9, 2025; and November 10, 2025. This series of images from NASAu2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, was taken over the course of three consecutive days. The sequence shows the progressive disintegration of the comet over this brief period. nnEach panel features several bright, fuzzy, blue, streaking lights in a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right of a black background. In the first panel, four comet-like objects appear. The largest is the second from the upper left. In the second panel, the largest object has broken into two pieces. In the third panel, the pieces appear to be moving away from each other along the invisible diagonal line.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5934w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=82&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=211&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=281&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=422&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=110&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=165&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=247&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=329&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=549&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5934px) 100vw, 5934px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Fragmentation of Comet C\/2025 K1<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">This series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS) was taken over the course of three consecutive days: Nov. 8, 9, and 10, 2025. This is the first time Hubble has witnessed a comet so early in the process of breaking up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/hubble\/fragmentation-of-comet-c-2025-k1\/\"  aria-label=\"Fragmentation of Comet C\/2025 K1\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Diagram shows K1u2019s path. With Sun near middle right of image, truncated nearly circular orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars appear against black background. K1u2019s tight parabolic curve, marked by solid, light blue curving line, illustrates how K1 swooped toward the Sun from above. It curved around the Sun, coming closest inside Mercuryu2019s orbit, and continued its outbound journey.nAfter passing the Sun, as K1 approached Venusu2019 orbit, NASAu2019s Hubble Space Telescope captured the inset image of comet. Five, bright, fuzzy, blue, comet-like objects streak diagonally from upper left to lower right of a black box outlined in white. At outside top of box is label C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS). Outside the right side of box is a white, horizontal line labeled November 10, 2025. To right of this line is a perpendicular, vertical line pointing to a white glow just inside Mercuryu2019s orbit that illustrates K1. To left of this glow, the cometu2019s outbound path is marked by a dashed gray line that continues off the image.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ85DGF5SX0KTW22066KP5D3.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Comet C\/2025 K1 Orbit Illustration<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">This diagram shows the path Comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1, took as it swung past the Sun and began its journey out of the solar system. NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope captured the inset image of the fragmenting comet just a month after K1\u2019s closest approach to the Sun.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/hubble\/comet-c-2025-k1-orbit-illustration\/\"  aria-label=\"Comet C\/2025 K1 Orbit Illustration\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5934\" height=\"1629\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Three annotated panels side by side show K1 fragmenting over three consecutive days. Arrows show the orientation of object on sky.u00a0At top left of first panel, label on first line reads Fragmentation of Comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS). Second line reads HST STIS MIRVIS. From left to right, panels are labeled November 8, 2025; November 9, 2025; and November 10, 2025.nnEach panel shows several bright, fuzzy, blue objects streaking diagonally from upper left to lower right of black background. In first panel, four comet-like objects are numbered 1 thru 4. In second panel, the largest object has broken into two pieces, 2a and 2b. In third panel, pieces appear to be moving away from each other diagonally.nnu00a0nnArrows on last panel show orientation of image on sky. Arrow labeled N points to 8:30. Arrow labeled E points to 5:30. Relationship between north and east on the sky as seen from below is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground as seen from above.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5934w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=300&#038;h=82&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=768&#038;h=211&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=281&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=422&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=400&#038;h=110&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=600&#038;h=165&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=900&#038;h=247&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=329&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJ68D73SFDA4DXFRZA6T643K.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=549&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5934px) 100vw, 5934px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Comet C\/2025 K1 Compass Image<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">This annotated series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, was taken over the course of three consecutive days: Nov. 8, 9, and 10, 2025. Arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/hubble\/comet-c-2025-k1-compass-image\/\"  aria-label=\"Comet C\/2025 K1 Compass Image\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1280&#038;h=720&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Image from NASAu2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short. Five bright, fuzzy, blue, comet-like objects streak in a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right of a black background.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1280&#038;h=720&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1280w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Fragmenting Comet C\/2025 K1<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">This animation steps through the three images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, taken consecutively on Nov. 8, 9, and 10, 2025. Captured by Hubble\u2019s STIS (Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph) instrument, t\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/hubble\/fragmenting-comet-c-2025-k1\/\"  aria-label=\"Fragmenting Comet C\/2025 K1\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1280&#038;h=720&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A time sequence of three panels side by side. From left to right, the panels are labeled November 8, 2025; November 9, 2025; and November 10, 2025. This series of images from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope of the fragmenting comet C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, was taken over the course of three consecutive days. The sequence shows the progressive disintegration of the comet over this brief period. \n\nEach panel features several bright, fuzzy, blue, streaking lights in a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right of a black background. In the first panel, four comet-like objects appear. The largest is the second from the upper left. In the second panel, the largest object has broken into two pieces. In the third panel, the pieces appear to be moving away from each other along the invisible diagonal line.\" style=\"transform: scale(2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1280&#038;h=720&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1280w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KJR812VBDW3P1EGXSW3XVB80.png?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Video: Hubble Accidentally Catches Comet Breaking Up<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily miniscule.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/svs.gsfc.nasa.gov\/14989\"  aria-label=\"\" class=\"link-external-true\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<html><body><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_b hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"><\/path><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"><\/circle><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Mar 18, 2026<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Andrea Gianopoulos<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\"><a class=\"hds-location-tag-name\" href=\"https:\/\/nasa.gov\/goddard\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"hds-meta-heading\">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-y-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"heading-16 padding-bottom-1 border-bottom margin-bottom-2\">Media<\/div>\n<div class=\"cnd-extra-left-wysiwyg\">\n<p><strong>Claire Andreoli<\/strong><br \/>\nNASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<br \/>\nGreenbelt, Maryland<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:claire.andreoli@nasa.gov\">claire.andreoli@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ann Jenkins, Christine Pulliam<\/strong><br \/>\nSpace Telescope Science Institute<br \/>\nBaltimore, Maryland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble Space Telescope<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics Division<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/comets\" rel=\"noopener\">Comets<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/focus-areas\/small-bodies-solar-system\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Bodies of the Solar System<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Solar System<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-top-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14 margin-bottom-2\">Related Links and Documents<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cnd-extra-right-wysiwyg\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2026\/03\/STScI-01KKVQRS16S4SXRVE9052HEFSK.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Science Paper: Sequential Fragmentation of C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS) After Its Near-Sun Passage, PDF (7.08 MB)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From Hubble<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Hubble Space Telescope<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/hubble\/videos\/hubble-banner-animation-mar-2026.gif?w=800&#038;h=450&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/science\/science-highlights\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Hubble Science Highlights<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"539\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/universe\/internal_resources\/462\/Pillars_of_Creation-1.jpeg?w=539&#038;h=565&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/multimedia\/hubble-images\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Hubble Images<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1536px\" height=\"1536px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2024\/07\/STScI-01J1X1RNTC893XMKJREG898ZXB.tif?w=1536 1536w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2024\/07\/STScI-01J1X1RNTC893XMKJREG898ZXB.tif?w=1536\" ><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/?post_type=mission&#038;p=53188\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Hubble News<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1536px\" height=\"1536px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2005\/02\/STScI-01EVT8D2PRXPF512PH8C8DCXXM.tif?w=1536 1536w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/hubble\/releases\/2005\/02\/STScI-01EVT8D2PRXPF512PH8C8DCXXM.tif?w=1536\" ><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal Icarus. The comet K1, whose full name is C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS)\u2014not to be confused with interstellar comet [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15612,15613,17683,15614,15615,16731,15610],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-389028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-astrophysics","category-astrophysics-division","category-comets","category-goddard-space-flight-center","category-hubble-space-telescope","category-small-bodies-of-the-solar-system","category-the-solar-system"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.8 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal Icarus. The comet K1, whose full name is C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS)\u2014not to be confused with interstellar comet [\u2026]\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Guest authors\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"google-site-verification\" content=\"1EIWGZ5FoylKQrO3pqls-2hXlDXKIP1lffdWZCVV0V4\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=389028\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO Pro (AIOSEO) 4.9.8\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"VibeWire Magazine - Your Alternate News Source for Transport, Politics, UFO, Paranormal, Anything\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NASA\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up - VibeWire Magazine\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal Icarus. The comet K1, whose full name is C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS)\u2014not to be confused with interstellar comet [\u2026]\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=389028\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-18T14:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-18T14:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VibewireCentral\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"NASA\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up - VibeWire Magazine\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"In a happy twist of fate, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal Icarus. The comet K1, whose full name is C\/2025 K1 (ATLAS)\u2014not to be confused with interstellar comet [\u2026]\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@VibewireCentral\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#blogposting\",\"name\":\"NASA\\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up - VibeWire Magazine\",\"headline\":\"NASA\\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?author=13#author\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/assets.science.nasa.gov\\\/dynamicimage\\\/assets\\\/science\\\/missions\\\/hubble\\\/releases\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/STScI-01KJ67XN05F6FZKR1NR53F4YKJ.jpg?w=5934&#038;h=1629&%23038;fit=clip&%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028\\\/#articleImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-19T00:00:36+10:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-19T00:00:36+10:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#webpage\"},\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#webpage\"},\"articleSection\":\"Astrophysics, Astrophysics Division, Comets, Goddard Space Flight Center, Hubble Space Telescope, Small Bodies of the Solar System, The Solar System\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?cat=15610#listItem\",\"name\":\"The Solar System\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?cat=15610#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Solar System\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?cat=15610\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#listItem\",\"name\":\"NASA\\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"NASA\\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?cat=15610#listItem\",\"name\":\"The Solar System\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"VibreWire Online\",\"description\":\"Your Alternate News Source for Transport, Politics, UFO, Paranormal, Anything\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/Screenshot-2024-01-07-at-2.32.21\\u202fpm.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028\\\/#organizationLogo\",\"width\":1028,\"height\":930},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028\\\/#organizationLogo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/VibewireCentral\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?author=13#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?author=13\",\"name\":\"Guest authors\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/764687183b9d2913837d7b543a5b43684d46e7eef4e1a9af4821624eb2bebbc0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"Guest authors\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vibewire.com.au\\\/?p=389028\",\"name\":\"NASA\\u2019s Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up - VibeWire Magazine\",\"description\":\"In a happy twist of fate, NASA\\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. 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