Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is lighting up the night sky
Spotted by the ATLAS telescope in Chile this July, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is now bright enough to catch with your own eyes.
It's only the third visitor of its kind ever seen from outside our solar system, following in the footsteps of 'Oumuamua and Borisov.
The comet swung closest to the Sun at the end of October and has been getting brighter as it heads our way.
Catch a glimpse—here's how
If you're into stargazing, now's your chance: 3I/ATLAS will be closest to Earth on December 19, about 170 million miles out.
Look for its faint greenish glow (thanks to carbon molecules) in dark skies—binoculars or a telescope help, but some might spot it with just their eyes.
Apps like Stellarium can guide you right to it if you want a shot at seeing something truly rare this winter.