Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches the Sun, Sparks Global Excitement
Pasadena, California—A rare interstellar comet named 3I/ATLAS has recently reached its closest point to the Sun, generating significant excitement among astronomers worldwide. The comet, which originated outside our solar system, passed approximately 126 million miles from the Sun around October 29-30, 2025, and is now on an outgoing path.
Astronomers including Darryl Seligman from Michigan State University are highly interested in studying 3I/ATLAS because it is only the third confirmed interstellar object to traverse through our solar neighborhood, following 1I/‘Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Observations have confirmed the comet is not a threat to Earth, with NASA stating it will safely pass at a distance of 168 million miles on December 19, 2025.
The comet was first discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope in Chile, which led to its official naming. The designation “3I” refers to its classification as the third interstellar object, while “ATLAS” honors the survey team who identified it.
Observations preceding its perihelion indicate that 3I/ATLAS is releasing gases such as carbon dioxide and water, suggesting a complex icy composition that could provide insights into the environment of its origin. Seligman emphasized the importance of these observations, stating that a comet’s closest approach to the Sun offers the best opportunity to study its materials.
Despite 3I/ATLAS being obscured from view by solar glare, astronomers expect it will become visible again through telescopes around early November, post-perihelion. The James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes have already captured images of the comet, providing data that offers clues about its chemical makeup and formation.
There is ongoing speculation regarding the possible nature of 3I/ATLAS, with some scientists, including Harvard’s Avi Loeb, raising questions about its peculiar characteristics, such as its unusual heat emissions. Yet, the prevailing scientific consensus is that 3I/ATLAS is a comet exhibiting typical cometary behavior.
As it moves away from the Sun, astronomers continue to track the comet’s trajectory meticulously to learn as much as possible before it leaves our solar system for good.
