How to spot rare comet 3I/ATLAS in pre-dawn sky

Technology Nov 04, 2025

A rare interstellar visitor, comet 3I/ATLAS, is lighting up the pre-dawn sky this November.
Thought to be 10 billion years old, it recently made its closest approach to the Sun and is now within reach of amateur telescopes and binoculars.

Where to look for the comet

Look for 3I/ATLAS about two hours before sunrise—it's hanging out near Venus and the star Spica in Virgo.
Stargazing apps or star maps can help you track it down since it's low on the horizon.

Amateur astronomers are stepping up

Because professional observatories can't see much of the comet right now, amateur astronomers around the world are stepping up by sharing their photos and data.
If you can't spot it yourself, check out live streams from projects like Virtual Telescope—you'll still get a front-row seat to this cosmic event.