What is 3I/ATLAS? 🌀 Overview
What is 3I/ATLAS
I/ATLAS (formally C/2025 N1 ATLAS) is the third interstellar object ever discovered, following 1I/Ê»Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. It was detected on July 1, 2025 by the ATLAS survey in Chile. The “3I” prefix means it’s the third confirmed object to have entered our Solar System from interstellar space.
☀️ Orbit and Trajectory
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The comet follows a strongly hyperbolic orbit, meaning it is not bound to the Sun and will eventually leave the Solar System again.
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It will reach its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on October 29, 2025, at about 1.4 AU — roughly the distance between Earth and Mars.
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The closest it will come to Earth is about 1.8 AU (around 270 million km), so it poses no danger.
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At perihelion, it will be traveling at roughly 68 km/s relative to the Sun — far faster than typical comets from our Solar System.
🌌 Physical and Chemical Properties
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The nucleus size is uncertain, estimated between 0.3 km and 5.6 km in diameter.
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Spectroscopic observations show that the comet is rich in carbon dioxide (CO₂), with smaller amounts of water, carbon monoxide (CO), and carbonyl sulfide (OCS).
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It’s currently sublimating water vapor as it warms — scientists describe it as “leaking water like a fire hose.”
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Observers have noted a greenish glow, typical for comets but with some unusual spectral features that suggest a distinctive chemical makeup.
🧠Scientific Importance
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3I/ATLAS offers a rare opportunity to study pristine material from another star system, giving clues about how comets form elsewhere in the galaxy.
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Early modeling suggests it might have originated from the thick disk of the Milky Way — a region with older, metal-poor stars.
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Intercepting it with a spacecraft is practically impossible: the comet’s speed and late discovery make the required velocity change far beyond our current propulsion limits.
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While a few researchers have speculated about artificial origins, the consensus is that 3I/ATLAS is a natural interstellar comet.
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