C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) is a comet discovered by amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy in November 2011. It is a long-period comet, meaning it takes a long time to orbit the Sun, with an estimated period of about 8,000 years. The comet became particularly notable for its bright appearance and was visible to the naked eye during its close approach to the Sun in December 2011. As it passed near the Sun, C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) survived the intense heat and gravitational forces, which is a rare occurrence for comets. This resilience allowed it to be observed by astronomers and enthusiasts, contributing valuable data to the study of comets and their behavior, particularly in relation to the Sun.