Comet 3I/ATLAS It flew past Earth last night as astronomers around the world continue to collect data on the interstellar visitor.
The comet made its closest approach around 1 a.m. EST on Friday (December 19), coming within about 168 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is up to several miles wide and has not come close enough to be seen with the naked eye. However, sky watchers observed it using telescopes.
And last night was far from the last chance to see the comet. According to scientists, it can be observed in the predawn sky with a small telescope until spring. NASA. If you don't have a telescope, then best way to see comet 3I/ATLAS is online.
Virtual telescope project in Italy is hosting a live broadcast of the comet as it passes Earth on Friday at 11:00 pm EST. The livestream, scheduled for last night but delayed due to rain, will include real-time images of the comet as it approaches Jupiter.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is worth a look because it is a rare example of an interstellar object located beyond our planet. solar system. This is only the third interstellar visitor ever discovered, and it may be oldest comet ever seen.
The origin of the comet has been the subject of much speculation, the most prominent of which is repeated speculation that it may have been a comet. alien spaceship. However, almost all astronomers are confident that 3I/ATLAS is a comet from another star system.
Researchers discovered Comet 3I/ATLAS in July when they noticed an unknown object speeding at about 137,000 mph (221,000 km/h) in orbit around Jupiter. Flying past the sun reaching the closest point to our star (perihelion) at the end of October the comet is now leaving our solar system.
After daily requests for literally months, I'm excited to share 3i/Atlas with you. Comet Alien, completely captured by my equipment. What do I think about this? I will share my observations in the answers. pic.twitter.com/XfPDhosoJNDecember 17, 2025
What's next for Comet 3I/ATLAS?
Comet 3I/ATLAS will next pass by Jupiter, where it is expected to reach closest approach on March 15, 2026, according to NASA. The comet will come much closer to Jupiter than it did to Earth, passing about 33 million miles (54 million km) from the gas giant. A spaceship located on Jupiter, like Junomay be able to watch the approaching comet.
The interstellar intruder will then cross Saturn's orbit in July 2026; Orbit of Uranus in April 2027; and the orbit of Neptune in March 2028. However, it will not approach any of these planets. You can track Comet 3I/ATLAS yourself using NASA's A look at the solar system modeling the comet's trajectory.
Researchers will keep an eye on Comet 3I/ATLAS as it remains in our cosmic environment. After all, there is still a lot they don't know about its properties. For example, the size of a comet is unknown. Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope it is estimated to be between 1,440 feet (440 meters) and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) wide.
Researchers also don't know which star system created Comet 3I/ATLAS, and they may never know. The comet had a very long journey and could have been traveling through space for billions of years before visiting our solar system.
