Using the WISPR (Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe) instrument aboard NASA's Parker Solar Probe, scientists observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from October 18 to November 5, 2025.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is visible in this image from Parker Solar Probe's WISPR instrument. Image credit: NRL/NASA/JHUAPL/Guillermo Stenborg, JHUAPL.
3I/ATLAS was discovered by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, on July 1, 2025.
The interstellar comet, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, arrived from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.
3I/ATLAS approached Mars at a distance of 0.194 AU. on October 3 and reached its closest approach to the Sun, known as perihelion, on October 30.
On December 19, the object made its closest approach to Earth, ending up at a distance of 270 million km (168 million miles) from our home planet.
The new 3I/ATLAS images were acquired by the WISPR instrument aboard NASA's Parker Solar Probe from October 18 to November 5.
“The Parker Solar Probe captured approximately 10 images of the comet per day,” WISPR team members said in a statement.
“During this period, the spacecraft was speeding away from the Sun after its 25th flyby of the Sun on September 15.”
“These initial images, which have yet to undergo final calibration and processing, show a comet heading beyond the Sun from Parker's perspective.”
“At the time, the comet was near its closest point to the Sun, about 209 million kilometers (130 million miles) away, placing it just beyond the orbit of Mars.”
“The images provide a valuable glimpse into the comet during a period when it could not be seen from Earth because it appeared too close to the Sun from Earth's perspective.”
The WISPR team continues to process the data to remove scattered sunlight and compensate for exposure times that varied between images, causing the comet to appear as if it had changed brightness.
“The final images will ultimately help us better study this interstellar guest,” the researchers said.
