On 1 July, astronomers spotted a peculiar object close to Jupiter’s orbit. Its trajectory was unlike that of familiar solar‑system bodies, and follow‑up calculations confirmed it as an interstellar newcomer: comet 3I/ATLAS, officially designated C/2025 N1 (ATLAS).
Using the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i, researchers have secured the first detailed photograph of this cosmic wanderer. “As sunlight warms the comet, we anticipate a wealth of data before it resumes its lonely voyage between the stars,” said Martin Still, program director for the International Gemini Observatory.
Only two interstellar objects—‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov—have been observed before, making 3I/ATLAS a rare opportunity. At roughly 20 km across, it dwarfs its predecessors, giving scientists a larger, brighter target to analyze as it approaches.
Preliminary work presented at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting 2025 suggests the comet may hail from a region of the Milky Way populated by ancient stars. If so, it could be about seven billion years old—predating our 4.5‑billion‑year‑old solar system.
When discovered, 3I/ATLAS was barreling along at about 61 km per second. Its orbital eccentricity of 6.2—far higher than the closed loops of typical comets—reveals its extra‑solar origin. For comparison, ‘Oumuamua’s eccentricity was 1.2 and Borisov’s 3.6.
Closest approach to the Sun: 30 October, at roughly 210 million km (just inside Mars’s orbit)
Closest approach to Earth: 19 December, at about 270 million km
Visibility: Observable with large telescopes until September, after which it slips behind the Sun’s glare
Comets preserve the chemical fingerprints of their birthplaces. Studying one formed around another star could reveal how planetary systems differ across the galaxy. Paul Wiegert of Western University notes that 3I/ATLAS appears comet‑like—an icy body slowly vaporizing in sunlight—yet it may still surprise researchers with unfamiliar traits.
Although the comet poses no threat to Earth, its size, speed and origin offer an unprecedented laboratory for studying material forged far beyond our solar neighborhood. Scientists worldwide will be tracking 3I/ATLAS closely as it sweeps through the inner system this year, eager for fresh insights into the broader cosmic story.
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