NASA to Reveal New Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS — How to Watch and What to Know

NASA will present new images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS during a livestreamed news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET. The briefing is expected to clarify recent confusion following public claims that the comet fragmented after passing near the sun.

How to watch

Tune in at 3 p.m. ET on any of NASA's official platforms: NASA.gov/live, NASA+, the NASA app, NASA's YouTube channel, NASA's X account, or Amazon Prime. (This event will not stream on Netflix.) To submit a question during the briefing, use the hashtag #AskNASA on social media — some questions may be answered live.

Is 3I/ATLAS coming to Earth?

No. 3I/ATLAS poses no impact threat. NASA reports the interstellar comet will pass about 170 million miles from Earth — roughly twice the distance between Earth and the sun — on Dec. 19, 2025. After passing through the inner solar system, the object is expected to continue on its trajectory and depart the solar system early next year.

Why the confusion about fragmentation?

Recent public attention was amplified by claims that 3I/ATLAS had broken apart and by speculative commentary suggesting exotic explanations. Most astronomers say the interstellar comet appears intact. The likely source of confusion is a different object: C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), discovered by the same telescope network. That separate, unrelated comet has been observed fragmenting as it passed near the sun, and pieces of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) may become visible from Earth soon.

Discovery and origin

3I/ATLAS was discovered in late June 2025 and confirmed as interstellar on July 1, 2025, by astronomers with the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Scientists conclude the object originated around another star and traveled across interstellar space for millions or billions of years before entering our solar system.

Size estimates and viewing tips

Estimates of 3I/ATLAS's nucleus size vary. The European Space Agency suggests a range from a few hundred feet to several miles across; Hubble observations place the nucleus roughly between about 1,400 feet and 3.5 miles in diameter. While 3I/ATLAS may be relatively large for an interstellar visitor, its brightness is modest.

Observers in much of the Northern Hemisphere may see the comet with a small telescope under good conditions. Because the comet is faint, astronomers recommend a telescope with at least an 8-inch aperture. The best viewing window extends through January 2026, with the closest approach on Dec. 19, 2025 offering the prime observing opportunity.

Context among interstellar visitors

3I/ATLAS joins a very short list of confirmed interstellar objects: 'Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). Researchers continue to study 3I/ATLAS closely because it may be among the most massive and oldest interstellar comets observed to date.

If you watch today’s briefing, expect clarification on the new images and commentary from scientists about the comet's condition and trajectory.