Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is coming! What to expect
Spotted just this July by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is making headlines as it prepares for its closest pass to the Sun on October 30. Its closest approach to Earth will occur in December.
This is only the third time we've seen a visitor from outside our solar system—after 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov—which makes it a pretty rare cosmic event.
Will it come close to Earth?
Don't worry—it's not coming anywhere near us in space terms.
On October 30, as it reaches its closest point to the Sun, it will be about 1.8 astronomical units (AU) from Earth (that's nearly 170 million miles).
Its closest approach to Earth will occur in December.
So, no doomsday scenarios—just cool science!
Is it an alien spaceship?
3I/ATLAS acts like a classic comet, leaving a trail of gas and dust as it heats up near the Sun.
NASA and ESA have been tracking it with their best telescopes—including Hubble and James Webb—to learn what it's made of and where it's really from.
While some folks have wondered if it could be something artificial, all signs so far say it's just a natural wanderer.
Why study interstellar comets?
Studying stuff that comes from other star systems helps scientists piece together how planets and comets form across the universe.
With new data rolling in as the comet emerges from behind the Sun, we're getting a rare peek into what's out there beyond our own solar neighborhood!