Mysterious Interstellar Comet 3I → ATLAS Offers New Insights As It Passes Through The Solar System

Comet 3I → ATLAS, a mysterious interstellar visitor, has been captivating astronomers and space enthusiasts with its journey through the solar system. This rare and intriguing object is only the third confirmed to have entered the cosmic neighborhood from elsewhere in the galaxy. According to NBC News, the comet’s recent photos, released last week, provide new insights into its characteristics.

The images, taken by a Jupiter-bound spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, add to a growing collection that has sparked curiosity about the interstellar object. Notably, there is no evidence to suggest that the object is alien technology, as some have speculated. Comet 3I → ATLAS reached its closest point to the sun at the end of October and is set to fly by Earth on December 19, at a safe distance of approximately 170 million miles away.

This event marks a significant opportunity for scientists to study the comet’s properties and composition. NASA’s SPHEREx observatory observed Comet 3I → ATLAS from August 7 to August 15, providing valuable information about its size, physical properties, and chemical composition. At the time of observation, the comet was about 290 million miles away from the sun.