Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is brightening faster than usual: Here's why
Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS is putting on a show, brightening much faster than most comets as it swings close to the Sun.
Scientists say this rapid glow-up—about twice the usual rate—suggests something unusual is happening on its surface, possibly related to its composition or interaction with solar heat.
Solar satellites recently observed a striking blue glow, which researchers suspect is due to gasses like cyanogen and possibly ammonia, a big change from the reddish dust seen earlier.
How to spot the interstellar comet in the night sky
Now that 3I/ATLAS is moving away from the Sun, you can catch it in Earth's night skies with a small telescope during November and December 2025.
With its peak brightness around magnitude 9, this rare interstellar comet gives both scientists and sky-watchers an exciting chance to see something truly out of this world.