Comet 3I/ATLAS
Explore This Section…CometsComet 3I/ATLASComets HomeFactsFeatured CometsHartleySwift-TuttleBorrellyHalleyChuryumov-GerasimenkoBorisovEnckeWild 2Tempel 1Hale-BoppSiding SpringISON‘OumuamuaShoemaker-Levy 9ResourcesSolar System Home This diagram shows the trajectory of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes through the solar system. It will make its closest approach to the Sun in October.NASA/JPL-Caltech Discovery The NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, first reported observations to the Minor Planet Center of comet 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025. Since the first report, observations made before the discovery were gathered from the archives of three different ATLAS telescopes around the world and Caltech’s Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California. These “pre-discovery” observations extend back to June 14. This animation shows the observations of comet 3I/ATLAS when it was discovered on July 1, 2025. The NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile first reported that the comet originated from interstellar space.Credit: ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA Overview Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known object...