The Once-in-80,000-Year Arrival of Atlas Comet Light’s Up Fallon’s Night Sky

Residents of Fallon were treated to an amazing celestial show last night as the Atlas Comet passed through the night sky. Visible in the west, the comet was detectable to the naked eye. Local stargazer Megan Yost, with her keen eye and new iPhone in hand, captured a photograph of the event. This unfiltered, unenhanced photo perfectly caught the comet's bright tail heading downward toward the horizon through the starry Nevada sky. 

First discovered in December 2019, the Atlas Comet, formally known as C/2019 Y4, was and is part of the same cometary family as the famous Great Comet of 1844. With a nucleus approximately one mile wide, the comet's bright tail is formed through dust and gas, with some elements billions of years old, purportedly dating back to Earth's solar system formation. This rare cosmic visitor travels by only once every 6,000 years.

The arrival of the Atlas Comet, known for its occasional bright appearances, is a thrilling event for astronomy buffs. Luckily, the clear, dark skies created perfect viewing conditions for Fallon residents. Souba's photo is now part of local history – a literal snapshot of the one-in-a-lifetime Atlas light show that appeared for those lucky enough to look up at just the right moment.