Matt Johnson
Comet 3I/ATLAS is speeding through our solar system in 2025, attracting global scientific attention.
The '3I' prefix signifies this is the third confirmed interstellar object after 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by NASA's ATLAS telescope in Chile, the comet was first mistaken for an asteroid.
3I/ATLAS travels at 130,000 mph on a hyperbolic orbit, confirming it's visiting from outside our solar system.
It had passed closest to the Sun on Oct 30, 2025, near Mars’ orbit, but remains safely 1.8 AU from Earth.
Its icy nucleus and glowing coma contain water ice, carbon compounds, and cyanide — a treasure trove for scientists.
NASA and ESA spacecraft observe it closely, providing insights into interstellar chemistry and planetary formation.