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3I/ATLAS: NASA’s New Images Reveal Details of a Rare Interstellar Comet

09:05 PM, 11/24/2025
3I/ATLAS: NASA’s New Images Reveal Details of a Rare Interstellar Comet

NASA released new images of 3I/ATLAS, the third object confirmed to originate from outside our solar system. Detected at about 137,000 mph, the comet follows a hyperbolic trajectory and will exit the solar system. Hubble data estimate its nucleus at roughly 1,400 feet to 3.5 miles across. It will pass about 170 million miles from Earth on Dec. 19 and poses no threat.

NASA has released a fresh set of images of 3I/ATLAS, a rare comet that originated beyond our solar system and has captured broad scientific and public interest. First confirmed in July, 3I/ATLAS is only the third object ever identified as interstellar in origin.

What is 3I/ATLAS?

3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet that was detected traveling at roughly 137,000 miles per hour. Measurements of its speed and trajectory show it was ejected from another star system and has been drifting through interstellar space for possibly billions of years before passing through our neighborhood. Its inbound direction traces back toward the general area of the constellation Sagittarius, near the Milky Way’s center.

Orbit, size and recent observations

Unlike comets bound to the Sun, 3I/ATLAS follows a hyperbolic orbit and will not remain in the solar system; it will eventually head back into interstellar space. Estimates of the comet’s solid, icy nucleus vary widely: data from the Hubble Space Telescope suggest a diameter between about 1,400 feet and 3.5 miles, while other estimates put its size from a few hundred feet to several miles.

On Nov. 19, NASA published a trove of previously unseen images that reveal more about the comet’s shape, coma and surrounding material. Ground-based telescopes and space instruments have been working together to capture these views while the object remains accessible.

Why astronomers care

Because 3I/ATLAS formed around another star, studying its composition and structure offers a rare opportunity to learn about planetary material from a different stellar system. Such observations can help scientists compare formation processes across the galaxy and refine models of planetary system evolution.

Public interest and safety

The comet has attracted speculation, including conspiracy theories that it might be artificial, but there is no evidence supporting such claims. 3I/ATLAS poses no danger to Earth; it is expected to pass roughly 170 million miles away on Dec. 19 — about twice the distance between Earth and the Sun.

Reporting: Eric Lagatta

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