Possible superstar comet Atlas looks like it's breaking up already, astronomers report

It could shine brighter than any comet in years, but it has to survive the next few weeks first.

Comet Atlas has the potential to put on one of the best shows by a melting space snowball in years, but there's some early indications that it might be breaking up early and cruising towards a spectacular fizzling instead.

In a note shared via The Astronomer's Telegram Monday, astronomers Quanzhi Ye from the University of Maryland and Qicheng Zhang of Caltech report that Comet C/2019 Y4, or Atlas, may be falling apart.

Possible superstar comet Atlas looks like it's breaking up already, astronomers report Picture 1 Possible superstar comet Atlas looks like it's breaking up already, astronomers report Picture 1

"We report the possible disintegration of comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)," they wrote. "Images taken on (April 5) showed an elongated pseudo-nucleus... as would be expected from a major disruption of the nucleus."

Or as astrophysicist Karl Battams from the Naval Research Laboratory and NASA's Sungrazing Comets Project summed it up on Twitter: "an elongated nucleus isn't a great sign."

So, you know how I was saying earlier that ATLAS might be ok "...as long as the nucleus is intact..."? Well, an elongated nucleus isn't a great sign...