\n Published on
\n 16\/12\/2025 – 11:48 GMT+1\n <\/p>\n
The interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS, which has captured imaginations around the world, will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, December 19, offering astronomers a narrow window to observe the rare visitor from a different galaxy.<\/p>\n
The third confirmed interstellar object ever recorded, 3I\/ATLAS will arrive no closer than 269 million kilometres from Earth \u2013 nearly twice the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). <\/p>\n
Scientists say it poses no danger to Earth or any other planets as it passes through the inner Solar System.<\/p>\n
First spotted on July 1 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in R\u00edo Hurtado, Chile, the comet\u2019s unusual characteristics and trajectory have sparked an online frenzy and given rise to a number of theories \u2013 including that it was sent by aliens<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n What do astronomers hope to observe?<\/p>\n Interstellar comets are exceedingly rare, true outsiders to our galaxy that carry clues about how worlds form far beyond the reaches of our Solar System. <\/p>\n Observing one of these objects from so near a distance is an exciting opportunity for astronomers to study its coma, or the luminous halo of gas and dust released as the comet is warmed by the sun.<\/p>\n This can offer new insight into how comets and planets form around other stars in the Universe.<\/p>\n Scientists have already recorded unprecedented images of 3I\/ATLAS using ground telescopes, including the ESA\u2019s X-ray telescope XMM-Newton.<\/p>\n The first images of an interstellar comet observed in X-ray light revealed a diffuse X-ray glow around the comet nucleus \u2013 clearing up a long-standing mystery as to whether interstellar comets shine in X-rays like our own Solar System\u2019s comets.<\/p>\n How can you track 3I\/ATLAS as it passes Earth?<\/p>\n Unfortunately for stargazers, 3I\/ATLAS\u2019 trajectory is still too far from Earth to be seen with the naked eye. <\/p>\n The good news is that at its closest distance, 3I\/ATLAS can be observed in the pre-dawn sky, even with a small telescope. According to NASA, it will remain observable until spring 2026, resembling a slightly brighter star.<\/p>\n You can see the exact location of 3I\/ATLAS in real time on the ESA\u2019s interactive map<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n