
Comet 3I/ATLAS — only the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system — made its closest pass by the Sun on Friday, October 30, 2025. Scientists are watching as the comet is expected to undergo major changes while it made its closest approach to the Sun.
The comet reached perihelion (its nearest point to the Sun), coming within 1.36 astronomical units (AU) — or roughly 1.36 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
The comet is expected to reappear around November 11, emerging in the eastern predawn sky.
However, skywatchers will need a large telescope — at least 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter — to spot it.
3I/ATLAS will never be visible to the naked eye, remaining a faint but fascinating visitor for astronomers.
At present, 3I/ATLAS is behind the Sun from Earth’s viewpoint, moving through the sky during daytime.
This makes it invisible to ground-based observers through early November as it’s obscured by the Sun’s glare.
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Going by Hubble Space Telescope observations made in August 20, astronomers said the diameter of the comet's nucleus is not less than 1444 feet and not greater than 5.6 kilometers, said NASA.
Skywatchers will need a large telescope — at least 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter — to spot it.
3I/ATLAS will never be visible to the naked eye, remaining a faint but fascinating visitor for astronomers.
Astronomers have said that 3I/ ATLAS have been observed with a nucleus and a coma (a bright cloud of gas and dust surrounding a comet as it approaches the Sun), thus making it a comet, and not an asteroid.
NASA said the comet does not follow a closed orbital path around the Sun, meaning it did not originate in our solar system. The space agency said that the comet is passing through our solar system and will continue its journey into interstellar space.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Live Tracker: According to the data collected on 20 August 2025, the diameter of the comet is 5.6 kilometres, while it is 440 meters across.
“The upper limit on its diameter is 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres), though it could be as small as 1,444 feet (440 meters) across,” according to the NASA website.
According to NASA, the 3I/ATLAS formed in another star system and was somehow ejected into interstellar space, which is the space between the stars. The comet was in the orbit of Jupiter when it was observed.
Comets are usually named after their discoverers, mentioned NASA. So 'ATLAS' stands for the ATLAS survey team – the discoverer, ‘I’ is for interstellar, and ‘3’ represents the third known interstellar object.
Comet 3I/ATLAS has left scientists surprised by brightening at an unexpectedly rapid pace as it made its closest approach to the sun. As per reports, experts are still studying the object and are yet to discover why it happened
The 3I/ATLAS comet is expected to reappear around November 11, emerging in the eastern predawn sky.
Earlier, a Hubble image of the Comet 3I/ATLAS showed that the comet with a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus.
According to The Sky's live tracker, comet 3I/ATLAS is in the constellation of Virgo, at a distance of 340,271,040.2 kilometers from Earth.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Live Tracker: US-based space organisation, NASA, is tracking the 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet through its deep space telescopes namely — Hubble, Webb, and SPHEREx.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Live Tracker: The 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet is set to leave out solar system behind after its passed behind the Sun in October. The comet will pass Jupiter in March 2026 on its way out of the solar system.
“The comet is on course to pass behind the Sun in late October, and venture past Jupiter in March 2026, on its way out of our solar system,” said NASA in its website.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet was first discovered on July 1, 2025. The NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile reported that the comet originated from interstellar space. Here's a glimpse
The 3I/ATLAS was first discovered on July 1, 2025. The NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile first reported that the comet originated from interstellar space.
A Hubble image of the Comet 3I/ATLAS showed that the comet with a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus.
Multiple visuals on social media showed the 3I/ATLAS while it made its closest approach to the sun. Here's a glimpse
Comets are usually named after their discoverers, mentioned NASA. So 'ATLAS' stands for the ATLAS survey team – the discoverer, ‘I’ is for interstellar, and ‘3’ represents the third known interstellar object.
The Comet 3I/ATLAS is expected to reappear around 11 November, emerging in the eastern predawn sky, but will not be visible to naked eye.
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