In a groundbreaking astronomical event, NASA has released unprecedented close-up images of an interstellar comet making a unique journey through our solar system. The celestial visitor, known as 3I/Atlas, represents only the third confirmed object to visit our cosmic neighbourhood from another star system.
Historic Cosmic Encounter
The Hubble telescope captured remarkable images of comet 3I/Atlas on 21 July 2025, providing scientists with invaluable data about this rare interstellar traveller. First discovered during the summer months, the comet made a harmless pass near Mars last month, coming within 18 million miles (29 million kilometres) of the red planet.
Three separate NASA spacecraft currently operating on or near Mars focused their instruments on the comet during its close approach, capturing images showing a distinctive fuzzy white blob. The European Space Agency contributed to this coordinated observation effort with its two Martian satellites also monitoring the comet's progress.
Global Observation Campaign
Astronomers worldwide are seizing this rare opportunity to study the interstellar visitor. The Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi successfully zoomed in on the comet from Italy on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, capturing its journey through space.
The comet is currently visible from Earth in the predawn sky using binoculars or telescopes, though it remains approximately 190 million miles (307 million kilometres) from our planet. According to NASA's acting astrophysics director Shawn Domagal-Goldman, "Everyone that is in control of a telescope wants to look at it because it's a fascinating and rare opportunity."
NASA confirms the comet will make its closest approach to Earth in mid-December, coming within 167 million miles (269 million kilometres) before beginning its permanent departure from our solar system.
Scientific Significance and Future Observations
ESA's Juice spacecraft, currently en route to Jupiter, has been training its cameras and scientific instruments on 3I/Atlas throughout the month, particularly following its closest approach to the sun. However, scientists won't receive these valuable observations until February due to technical constraints involving the spacecraft's main antenna serving as a heat shield.
Named after the Chilean telescope that first detected it, estimates of the comet's size vary significantly from 1,444 feet (440 metres) across to potentially 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) in diameter. Observations suggest this exceptionally fast-moving comet may have originated from a star system older than our own.
NASA scientist Tom Statler expressed the significance of this discovery, stating, "That means that 3I/Atlas is not just a window into another solar system, it's a window into the deep past and so deep in the past that it predates even the formation of our Earth and our sun."
NASA officials have been quick to dismiss speculation that this interstellar visitor might represent some form of alien spacecraft. Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, clarified that while the space agency continuously searches for life beyond Earth, "3I/Atlas is a comet." Officials noted that recent government shutdowns limited their ability to address all theories circulating about the comet in recent weeks.
Other NASA spacecraft, including the James Webb Space Telescope, will continue observing 3I/Atlas in the coming weeks as astronomers worldwide make the most of this unique opportunity to study an object from beyond our solar system before it disappears forever into interstellar space.
