NASA confirms interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is wrapped in fog. Latest 3I/ATLAS news, updates, size, speed, and arrival details revealed.
3I/ATLAS: A Rare Visitor in Our Solar System
Astronomers are buzzing about the discovery of 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet that’s turning out to be one of the most fascinating space visitors in recent history. First spotted on July 1, 2025, by the Deep Random Survey telescope in Chile, part of the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) project, this comet isn’t bound by the sun’s gravity. That means it came from outside our solar system a true traveler from the stars.
So far, only two other interstellar objects have ever been confirmed: ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. 3i Atlas is the third, and it’s already making headlines as the largest and brightest interstellar comet yet.
NASA’s SPHEREx Spots Something Unusual
NASA’s new space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), has been closely watching 3I/ATLAS. What it found surprised scientists: the comet’s coma (the cloud around its nucleus) is dominated by carbon dioxide gas along with water ice.
Astronomer Carey Lisse from Johns Hopkins University explained:
“SPHEREx’s detection of unusually high levels of carbon dioxide gas suggests it may resemble a typical comet from our solar system.”
Comets usually contain a mix of rocky dust, water, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The balance depends on where they formed. The fact that 3i Atlas carries plenty of CO₂ but lacks carbon monoxide suggests it was “well-baked” before leaving its original solar system.
Lisse believes this ancient comet could be two to three times older than any found in our own solar neighborhood, likely born in the thick disk of the Milky Way.
James Webb Telescope Adds More Clues
On August 6, 2025, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured detailed data using its NIRSpec infrared camera. JWST confirmed the coma is mostly carbon dioxide, with a striking 8-to-1 ratio of CO₂ to water the highest ever measured in a comet.
That ratio raises big questions about 3I ATLAS’s origins. Possible explanations include:
- Formation in a star system with high ultraviolet radiation
- Birth beyond the CO₂ ice line, where CO₂ ice is more common than water ice
- A nucleus structure that allows CO₂ to escape more easily than water
Interestingly, isotopic measurements of carbon in the comet are similar to Earth’s, suggesting it formed in an environment not too different from our own.
When Will 3I/ATLAS Be Closest to the Sun?
3I/ATLAS is currently traveling along a trajectory through the inner solar system. According to NASA, it will reach perihelion (closest approach to the sun) in late October 2025, at about the same distance as Mars’s orbit.
The good news: despite rumors about a possible 3i Atlas hit Earth, scientists confirm it poses no danger to our planet.
As it nears the sun, the comet’s water ice is expected to sublimate, creating a huge water coma to go along with its carbon dioxide fog. This will likely produce a brighter dust tail, making 3iAtlas more visible through telescopes and perhaps even in sky-watch livestreams.
Why 3I/ATLAS Matters
Every interstellar object offers a rare chance to study material from beyond our solar system. Unlike ‘Oumuamua, which never showed a visible coma, and Borisov, which behaved differently, 3i-Atlas is providing a wealth of chemical data.
NASA’s Olivier Doré summed it up:
“SPHEREx, by surveying the entire sky across 102 colors, is able to examine a wide range of objects, from distant galaxies to interstellar comets such as 3I/ATLAS. The richness of the data will fuel discoveries across astronomy.”
Scientists are eager to continue 3I/ATLAS tracking as it makes its closest approach. Probes near Mars may even catch rare images of the comet during its October flyby.
Final Thoughts
3i Atlas isn’t just another comet it’s a time capsule from another star system. Wrapped in carbon dioxide fog, carrying ancient ices, and possibly billions of years old, this comet is helping astronomers compare interstellar visitors with comets formed in our solar system.
The latest 3i Atlas updates show we’re only beginning to understand its path, speed, and composition. By December 2025, it will already be heading back into interstellar space, leaving scientists with precious data to analyze for years.
For now, all eyes remain on this cosmic traveler the most surprising interstellar comet we’ve seen yet.
Also Read: Sam Altman Says – By 2035, College Graduates Could Land High-Paying Jobs in Space
FAQs on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
Q1. What is 3I/ATLAS?
3I/ATLAS is classified as an interstellar comet, originating from beyond our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS project in Chile, it is only the third confirmed interstellar object after ‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
Q2. Will 3I/ATLAS hit Earth?
No. Despite speculation, NASA has confirmed that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth. Its trajectory keeps it far away from our planet, passing around the distance of Mars’s orbit when it reaches perihelion.
Q3. How big is 3I/ATLAS?
While exact measurements are still being studied, early data suggests 3I/ATLAS is larger and brighter than the previous two interstellar objects. This makes it easier for telescopes like JWST and SPHEREx to capture detailed images and chemical data.
Q4. Can we see 3I/ATLAS from Earth?
Right now, 3I/ATLAS is best seen through powerful telescopes and live stream observations. As it gets closer to the sun in October 2025, astronomers expect its coma and tail to brighten, improving 3i Atlas visibility for sky watchers.
