NASA to Share Comet 3I/ATLAS Images From Spacecraft, Telescopes



Comet 3I/ATLAS is in the constellation of Virgo, at a distance of 306,694,077.5 kilometers from Earth. The current Right Ascension is 12h 39m 20s and the Declination is -02° 51' 28” (apparent coordinates). The latest observed magnitude of comet 3I/ATLAS is 9.8 (data provided by COBS).

What is happening to the 3I ATLAS?
3I/ATLAS is passing through our Solar System at speeds of up to 150,000 mph (250,000 kph) and will soon leave it forever. Improving the known trajectory of this comet is a big deal, since it's only the third such object we've ever seen.

Has NASA released images of the 3I ATLAS?
NASA's Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during July and August 2025, and the images above were released in October 2025. The left panel shows observations of the comet in visible light, while the right panel shows observations in ultraviolet.

What is the current position of 3I ATLAS?
Comet 3I/ATLAS is in the constellation of Virgo, at a distance of 307,902,654.3 kilometers from Earth. The current Right Ascension is 12h 41m 06s and the Declination is -03° 00' 39” (apparent coordinates). The latest observed magnitude of comet 3I/ATLAS is 9.3 (data provided by COBS).

Will the 3I ATLAS hit Earth?
Is there a danger of this interstellar object hitting Earth? No. Although the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS brought it just inside the orbit of Mars, it is now heading outbound from the Sun and won't come close to Earth at all.

What is NASA saying about the 3I ATLAS?
This prompted NASA administrator Sean Duffy to respond, great question. He then explained that 3I/ATLAS has, quote, "no aliens and does not present a threat to human life on Earth." Some in the astronomy world have reacted to Loeb's claims more vehemently.

Has NASA released images of the 3I ATLAS?
NASA's Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during July and August 2025, and the images above were released in October 2025. The left panel shows observations of the comet in visible light, while the right panel shows observations in ultraviolet.

Should we worry about the 3I ATLAS?
No threat to Earth, but valuable insights
NASA has confirmed that 3I/Atlas poses no danger to Earth. Instead, it provides a rare opportunity to study material that formed in another star system. Researchers expect to learn more about its composition and structure as it nears the Sun in the coming days.

What is going on with the 3I ATLAS?
Because 3I/ATLAS is passing through our Solar System fast, travelling with speeds up to 250 000 km/h, it will soon vanish into interstellar space, never to return.

Has the 3I ATLAS broken up?
Sky watchers celebrated earlier this week when, after speculation that the object had broken apart, 3I/ATLAS emerged fully intact after its close encounter with the Sun.

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