Is comet 3I/ATLAS natural or artificial? What we know
Comet 3I/ATLAS, visiting from outside our solar system, has scientists curious thanks to its seven jets—including some that point toward the Sun—and its unusual blue color.
Harvard's Avi Loeb even wondered if these jets could be "thrusters," but they might just be ice turning into gas.
Its odd movement adds to the mystery.
How will scientists measure the jets?
As 3I/ATLAS gets closest to Earth on December 19, researchers will measure how fast its jets move and what they're made of.
The big question: are these features natural or something more unexpected?
When to spot the comet
The comet passed closest to the Sun on October 30 and will show up in the eastern pre-dawn sky near Sagittarius by November 11.
It's too faint for the naked eye—you'll need at least an eight-inch telescope for a look.
Are these 2 comets connected?
Even though comet C/2025 V1 was discovered around the same time, it isn't connected to 3I/ATLAS.
They never got close enough for any real interaction and have separate origins.