For the last couple of months, astronomers have been excited about the prospect of a potentially bright comet headed our way. Comet ATLAS brightened rapidly after being discovered in late December. The comet already has developed a tail, which will likely increase in brightness due to the ejection of gas and dust as the comet nears the sun. ATLAS is already visible with a small telescope, and had been showing signs of rapid brightening. Hopeful astronomers thought we might have a bright comet this spring.
However, in recent weeks the comet's brightening trend has diminished, suggesting that its approach to Earth and the sun this spring might be slightly disappointing; perhaps visible with the unaided eye, if barely, but well shy of the brilliant spectacle some sky-gazers had been hoping for. The last truly brilliant comet visible in the Northern Hemisphere was comet Hale-Bopp in the winter and early spring of 1997.
