3i/ATLAS is hurdling our way, the third confirmed and recorded interstellar object, believed to have come from much closer to the Milky Way core on its way out to the infinite.
David L. Chandler on July 28, 2025 did an article for Sky & Telescope “Interstellar Comet 3i/ATLAS: What We Know Now”. Lots of cool details about this fleet-footed visitor. What I enjoyed most about the article is the section on “Capturing the Comet at Perihelion”. Timing is crucial to see Comet 3i/ATLAS closest approach to the sun, and for Earth observation, it’s not happening. We will be on the other side of the sun. But because we have machines scattered throughout the system, there is a chance for the satellites we have around Mars and Jupiter to see what happens when this unique comet is at its warmest. It will take some finagling and cooperation. What sends me Geeking is we have OPTIONS, even when Earth isn’t in the right spot. This is what science does. It gives so many options.
If Sky & Telescope publishes stuff that is your jam, you might want to go over to that Other Cool Blog, read up on 3i/ATLAS and other astronomy news. – full URL: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-what-we-know-now/
