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

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

"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...