Hubble Captures Detailed Image of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, providing new insights into its size and behavior.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to traverse our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile, the comet is traveling at approximately 130,000 miles per hour. Hubble's observations estimate the comet's nucleus to be between 1,000 feet and 3.5 miles in diameter. The image reveals a teardrop-shaped dust plume and a faint dust tail, characteristics typical of comets originating within our solar system. 3I/ATLAS is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun in late October, passing between the orbits of Mars and Earth, and will remain visible to telescopes through September. It is anticipated to reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December, allowing for renewed observations. This discovery offers a unique opportunity to study an object from another star system, enhancing our understanding of the composition and behavior of interstellar comets.