In an extraordinary astronomical event, NASA has released unprecedented close-up images of a rare interstellar comet currently passing through our solar system. The celestial visitor, known as 3I/Atlas, represents only the third confirmed object to journey to our cosmic neighbourhood from beyond the Sun's influence.
A Fleeting Cosmic Visitor
The comet was first discovered during summer observations and has been closely monitored by space agencies worldwide. In late October, 3I/Atlas made its closest approach to Mars, passing just 18 million miles (29 million kilometres) from the red planet. This provided a unique opportunity for multiple spacecraft to capture detailed observations of the interstellar traveller.
Three NASA spacecraft currently operating on or near Mars focused their instruments on the comet during its Martian flyby, capturing images showing a distinctive fuzzy white blob against the darkness of space. The European Space Agency's two Martian satellites also contributed valuable data to this international observation effort.
Global Observation Campaign Underway
Astronomers worldwide are directing their telescopes toward 3I/Atlas as it continues its journey through our solar system. The Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi successfully captured images from Italy on 19 November 2025, showing the comet streaking through space.
The comet will make its closest approach to Earth in mid-December, coming within 167 million miles (269 million kilometres) of our planet. For UK stargazers, the comet is visible in the predawn sky using binoculars or a telescope, offering a rare opportunity to witness an object from another star system.
"Everyone that is in control of a telescope wants to look at it because it's a fascinating and rare opportunity," explained NASA's acting astrophysics director, Shawn Domagal-Goldman, highlighting the significance of this celestial event.
Scientific Significance and Future Observations
ESA's Juice spacecraft, currently en route to Jupiter, has been training its cameras and scientific instruments on the comet throughout November, particularly after it made its closest pass to the Sun. However, scientists won't receive these observations until February due to technical constraints involving the spacecraft's main antenna serving as a heat shield.
Named after the telescope in Chile that first detected it, 3I/Atlas is estimated to measure between 1,444 feet (440 metres) and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) across. The comet's exceptional speed and trajectory suggest it may have originated from a star system older than our own Solar System.
"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 scientist Tom Statler told reporters, describing the profound scientific importance of this visitor.
NASA officials were quick to dismiss speculation that the comet might represent an alien spacecraft, emphasising that 3I/Atlas displays all the characteristics of a natural comet. The space agency continues its hunt for extraterrestrial life, but confirmed this particular visitor is entirely natural in origin.
After its December approach to Earth, 3I/Atlas will begin its journey back into interstellar space, never to return to our Solar System, making current observations particularly valuable to astronomers and space scientists worldwide.
