Five bright comets are compared in these panels, recorded by
a coronograph on board the long-lived, sun-staring
SOHO spacecraft.
Arranged chronologically all are recognizable by their
tails
streaming
away
from the Sun at the center of
each field of view, where
a direct view of the overwhelmingly bright Sun is blocked by
the coronagraph's occulting disk.
Each comet was memorable for earthbound skygazers, starting
at top left with
Comet McNaught,
the 21st century's brightest comet (so far).
C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas,
approaching its perihelion with the active Sun at bottom center,
has most recently grabbed the
attention of comet watchers around the globe.
By the end of October 2024, the blank 6th panel may be
filled with bright sungrazer comet
C/2024 S1 Atlas.
...
or not.