Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) has disintegrated as it approached perihelion, the point in its orbit closest to the sun.

Although there were hopes it might become visible to the naked eye around Halloween, astronomers had already noted signs of its evaporation earlier in October.

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory confirmed the comet’s demise after it passed Earth on October 23, reaching a magnitude of 8.7, too dim for naked-eye observation, Space.com has reported.

Discovered on September 27 by the ATLAS project in Hawaii, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) was part of the Kreutz family of sungrazers, believed to be fragments of a larger comet that broke apart long ago.

Written by B.C. Begley