{"id":273079,"date":"2025-11-09T11:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T11:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/273079\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T11:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T11:05:14","slug":"3i-atlas-news-3i-atlas-trajectory-tracking-atlas-3i-31-atlas-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/273079\/","title":{"rendered":"3I ATLAS News | 3I\/ATLAS Trajectory Tracking | ATLAS 3I | 31 ATLAS Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year, we\u2019re welcoming a rare guest in our skies \u2013 the interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS! It\u2019s only the third interstellar object ever discovered, making it a once-in-a-lifetime visitor. But some argue we shouldn\u2019t dismiss a wilder possibility: could it be an alien probe passing through our Solar System? Whatever you believe, you can track 3I\/ATLAS in the Sky Tonight app<\/a>. After spending weeks hidden behind the Sun, the comet is now returning to view in the morning sky. Learn when and how to see it, and plan your perfect observing moment!<\/p>\n

ContentsWhat is 3I\/ATLAS?<\/p>\n

3I\/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object \u2014 a rare visitor from beyond our Solar System. It was first spotted on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile. The official view, supported by NASA<\/a>, ESA<\/a>, and most astronomers, is straightforward: 3I\/ATLAS is a natural comet \u2014 the third interstellar object ever confirmed, after \u2018Oumuamua and comet 2I\/Borisov. But not everyone is convinced, and some argue that its unusual properties leave room for more exotic explanations.<\/p>\n

Ever since its discovery, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb<\/a> has questioned whether 3I\/ATLAS is a normal comet at all. He points to its unusual brightness, precise path through the Solar System, and lack of clear cometary outgassing early on \u2014 arguing that it doesn\u2019t behave like a comet. In later updates, Loeb noted its unexpected stability and high mass, speculating that if the object ever changed course near the Sun, this could hint at technological propulsion rather than natural forces. He even joked that people should \u201ctake their vacation before October 29,\u201d when the comet reaches perihelion \u2014 in case it\u2019s something far stranger than expected.<\/p>\n

Most astronomers, however, are unconvinced. Observations from Hubble<\/a>, SPHEREx<\/a>, and ESA\u2019s Mars orbiters<\/a> show signs of a classic comet: a small icy nucleus, a carbon-dioxide-rich coma, bursts of water vapor, and even a rare anti-tail caused by viewing geometry. The evidence shows that 3I\/ATLAS is a remarkable natural comet, now giving scientists an unprecedented look at the chemistry of interstellar objects.<\/p>\n

\"3I\/ATLAS\"\/Hubble Space Telescope<\/a> view of interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS, captured on July 21, 2025, from 365 million km away. The comet shows a teardrop-shaped dust coma, while background stars appear as streaks.Comet 3I ATLAS latest news: did 3I ATLAS change course?<\/p>\n

So much has happened since the interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS burst onto the scene that it\u2019s easy to lose track. Has it changed color again? Shifted course? Survived its close brush with the Sun? Here\u2019s everything we know so far about what\u2019s happening with this mysterious visitor from another star system.<\/p>\n

November 5: Did 3I ATLAS change course?<\/p>\n

When interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS passed close to the Sun, astronomers spotted a subtle but powerful effect: its light was bent by the Sun\u2019s gravity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to calculations, light passing near the Sun should appear to shift by about 1.75 arcseconds<\/a> \u2014 roughly the apparent width of a coin seen from 3 km away. Using space-based solar observatories, scientists measured almost the same value for 3I\/ATLAS\u2019s apparent position change as it moved past the Sun. This tiny deflection happens because massive objects like the Sun warp space around them, curving the paths of light that pass nearby.<\/p>\n

Researchers also noted a small deviation in the comet\u2019s trajectory as it left perihelion \u2014 about 4 arcseconds off from predictions. That shift is consistent with the combined effects of gravity and solar radiation pressure \u2014 not alien maneuvers, just physics doing its job.<\/p>\n

\"Measuring<\/p>\n

Ever wondered what it means when a planet is \u201c5 degrees away\u201d from the Moon? This infographic breaks down how we measure distances in the sky.<\/p>\n

See Infographic<\/a>November 4: 3I ATLAS color change puzzles scientists<\/p>\n

The interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS appears to be changing color again<\/a>. Recent images show the visitor turning to a bluish hue. Scientists say this sequence of color shifts is highly unusual for a comet and could signal evolving chemistry or dust dynamics.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we know so far: when first observed, 3I\/ATLAS appeared red. As it edged closer to the Sun, it turned green\u2014possibly from newly released gases. Now, the shift toward blue may hint at yet another transformation, either within the dust\/gas mix or from solar radiation altering its surface.<\/p>\n

November 2: 3I\/ATLAS is coming back into view<\/p>\n

After swinging around the Sun, 3I\/ATLAS is now heading back into darker skies and will start to reappear in the morning sky by mid-November.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s expected to shine around magnitude 11\u201312 \u2014 too faint for the naked eye, and only possibly visible in good binoculars under ideal dark-sky conditions, though small telescopes will show it more reliably.<\/p>\n

If you want to try spotting it, look low above the eastern horizon just before sunrise. The comet will climb a bit higher each morning as it moves away from the Sun. Astronomers are now waiting for the first post-perihelion measurements to see whether this cosmic visitor will keep glowing brightly or begin to fade.<\/p>\n

October 29: 3I\/ATLAS survives its close pass to the Sun, suddenly brightening<\/p>\n

The rare interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS has made it safely through its closest approach to the Sun, coming within 1.36 AU on October 29, 2025.<\/p>\n

Observations from space telescopes \u2014 SOHO, STEREO-A, and GOES-19 \u2014 showed the comet brightening rapidly as it neared the Sun. Its glow reached about magnitude 9, but the comet was lost in the Sun\u2019s glare and couldn\u2019t be seen from Earth at the time.<\/p>\n

Images taken by the spacecraft revealed something unexpected: 3I\/ATLAS looked unusually blue. This color hints at strong gas activity, especially from molecules like C\u2082 and NH\u2082, shining in the comet\u2019s thin atmosphere.<\/p>\n

These emissions confirm that 3I\/ATLAS behaves just like a natural comet, putting to rest early ideas that it might be an alien probe.<\/p>\n

Read the full scientific paper on arXiv<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3I ATLAS news recap: September-late October 2025<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a busy few months for our interstellar visitor. If you\u2019ve lost track of this fast-moving interstellar drama \u2014 don\u2019t worry. Here\u2019s your quick catch-up on everything 3I\/ATLAS has been up to lately:<\/p>\n

Comet 3I ATLAS live tracking: where is 3I ATLAS now, and how to see it<\/p>\n

Want to catch a glimpse of a traveler from another star system? Comet 3I\/ATLAS is passing through our cosmic neighborhood, and with the right timing and equipment, you can spot it for yourself. Below, we\u2019ll walk you through how bright it will get, when and where to look, and how to avoid common pitfalls (like the glare of the Moon) to maximize your chances.<\/p>\n

Comet 3I ATLAS brightening: what you\u2019ll see?\"3I\/ATLASThis graph shows the brightness of 3I\/ATLAS. The dots mark real observations, while the red curve shows the predicted trend. At the beginning, the comet was faint (17th magnitude), but it is expected to peak at around 12th magnitude in November 2025, after which it will fade away again. Not a naked-eye treat \u2014 but still a good sky show for telescopes!<\/p>\n

When it was first discovered, the comet was extremely dim, shining at about magnitude 17. By September 2025, it had brightened into the magnitude 12\u201314. As 3I\/ATLAS approached the Sun in late October, it surprised astronomers by brightening much faster than expected: it suddenly became visible to space observatories at magnitude 7\u20138. This outburst likely came from water ice becoming active as sunlight reached deeper layers beneath the surface \u2014 proof that 3I\/ATLAS is far more dynamic than early models suggested.<\/p>\n

Now, as it climbs back into the morning sky after solar conjunction, astronomers expect it to shine around magnitude 11\u201312 under normal conditions. However, some forecasts remain more optimistic, hinting that the comet could briefly reach about magnitude 9 if its heightened activity continues.<\/p>\n

Either way, that would make 3I\/ATLAS the brightest interstellar object ever observed, visible in small amateur telescopes.<\/p>\n

When and where to see comet 3I\/ATLAS?<\/p>\n

The orbit of comet 3I\/ATLAS lies almost in the plane of the planets (inclination \u22485\u00b0 to the ecliptic<\/a>), which means it can be observed from both hemispheres.<\/p>\n

\"CometPath of comet 3I\/ATLAS across constellations in September-December 2025.
\nNovember 2025: After solar conjunction, 3I\/ATLAS will return to view in mid to late November. Around November 11, it may first appear in the morning sky before sunrise, though still low on the horizon. The best observing conditions will come in late November, as the comet climbs higher and becomes easier to spot in the dawn twilight.
\nDecember 2025: 3I\/ATLAS will move into the constellation Leo, still visible in the early morning hours. By then, however, its brightness will have dropped quickly to about magnitude 14 and fainter. As the year ends, the comet will drift away, leaving the Solar System behind.
\nComet 3I\/ATLAS observing tips: how to see it?<\/p>\n

3I\/ATLAS is expected to reach a peak brightness of magnitude 11\u201312 \u2014 too faint for regular binoculars, but within reach of small amateur telescopes (aperture 80\u2013150 mm) under dark skies. Through the eyepiece, it will appear as a faint, diffuse glow.
\nTo see it at its best, plan carefully:<\/p>\n

Observe before dawn: about 90 minutes before sunrise in November, and up to 2 hours before sunrise in December.
\nFind a dark site with a clear view toward the eastern horizon.
\nUse low magnification (20\u201360\u00d7) to boost contrast and reveal the faint coma.
\nAvoid bright moonlight. The Moon\u2019s glare can easily wash out such a dim object, so aim for New Moon nights \u2014 November 19 and December 12. The Full Moon on December 4 (the last Supermoon of the year<\/a> will make the comet nearly impossible to spot.<\/p>\n

For convenient planning, see the Moon phase calendar<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n

3I\/ATLAS tracking: where is 3I ATLAS now?<\/p>\n

Right now, the interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS is gliding through the constellation Virgo, steadily moving away from the Sun after its recent close approach. You can use the free Sky Tonight app<\/a> as a comet tracker to pinpoint its exact location in the sky:<\/p>\n

Launch the app and tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen;
\nType \u201c3I ATLAS\u201d into the search bar, then tap the blue target icon \u2014 the comet will appear on the sky map.
\nPoint your device toward the sky and simply follow the white arrow on the screen until it guides you to comet 3I\/ATLAS above your location.
\nFrequently asked questions about the comet 3I\/ATLASWhy is comet 3I\/ATLAS special?<\/p>\n

To begin with, it\u2019s a true interstellar object, meaning it didn\u2019t form in our Solar System but came from another star system entirely. Such objects are incredibly rare, so each new one causes a stir. On top of that, early estimates suggest its core could be up to 5 kilometers across, making it one of the largest interstellar bodies we\u2019ve ever spotted. And the best part is that this cosmic traveler will actually be visible in the sky this year.<\/p>\n

Is comet 3I\/ATLAS the only interstellar object found so far?<\/p>\n

Nope! In fact, 3I\/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our Solar System. The very first was the oddly shaped object called \u2018Oumuamua, discovered in 2017 \u2014 an elongated rock, which some thought looked like an alien spaceship. Then came 2I\/Borisov in 2019, which behaved like a typical comet with a bright coma and tail.<\/p>\n

How do we know that 3I\/ATLAS is not from our Solar System?<\/p>\n

Its unusual trajectory was the first big clue \u2014 it wasn\u2019t closed, but had a hyperbolic shape, so astronomers suspected the comet wasn’t local. Later, orbital calculations confirmed it: 3I\/ATLAS is traveling at about 210,000 km\/h, a speed typical of interstellar objects and far too high for something bound by the Sun\u2019s gravity.<\/p>\n

Will the comet 3I\/ATLAS hit Earth?\"CometOn October 29, 2025, comet 3I\/ATLAS will come closest to the Sun, within about 1.4 AU (roughly 210 million km) of our star. Before that, it will slip inside Mars\u2019 orbit, passing just 30 million km from the Red Planet. But don\u2019t worry: there\u2019s no dangerously close encounter with Earth on the schedule.<\/p>\n

No need to worry \u2014 comet 3I\/ATLAS will pass through the inner part of our planetary system, but it will remain very far from Earth. Its closest approach to our planet will occur on December 19, 2025. The distance between the two bodies will be about 1.8 AU \u2014 that\u2019s roughly 269 million km, nearly twice the average Earth\u2013Sun distance.<\/p>\n

When will 3I\/ATLAS leave the Solar System?<\/p>\n

After its closest approach to the Sun in late October 2025, 3I\/ATLAS has begun its journey back into interstellar space. Traveling at around 30 km\/s, it\u2019s moving fast enough to escape the Sun\u2019s gravity entirely. On its way out, the comet will reach perigee (closest to Earth) on December 19, 2025, and cross beyond Jupiter\u2019s orbit by March 16, 2026. By the early 2030s, it will have left the planetary region of the Solar System \u2014 continuing its silent voyage through the galaxy, just as it once arrived.<\/p>\n

Is 3I\/ATLAS for sure a comet? Can it be an alien spaceship?<\/p>\n

Most likely, 3I\/ATLAS is a comet. It has an icy nucleus, produces gas and dust, and grows a coma and tail \u2014 textbook comet behavior (you can check our special article about comets<\/a> and see for yourself). We might have hoped for alien friends, but not this time.<\/p>\n

People want to believe, which is why so many ordinary things get mistaken for UFOs<\/a>: from balloons to human-made satellites in the night sky. To help you out, we\u2019ve collected the most common mix-ups in our infographic. Don\u2019t let yourself be fooled!<\/p>\n

\"UFO<\/p>\n

What are those strange lights in the sky? Uncover the truth behind UFO sightings! \ud83d\udef8 Explore our infographic to discover how everyday objects can masquerade as mysterious aerial phenomena. \ud83c\udf86 From colorful lights to spiraling formations, you’ll never believe what’s really up there!<\/p>\n

See Infographic<\/a>31 ATLAS, 3AI ATLAS, ATLAS 3I, 3 Eye Atlas: what\u2019s the correct name?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve seen people online calling it \u201c31 ATLAS,\u201d \u201c3AI ATLAS,\u201d or \u201c3 Eye Atlas,\u201d don\u2019t worry \u2014 they all mean the same thing. The comet\u2019s real designations are C\/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and 3I\/ATLAS, which may look different but refer to one and the same interstellar comet.<\/p>\n

C\/2025 N1 (ATLAS) is the comet\u2019s provisional designation, following standard naming rules by the IAU<\/a>:<\/p>\n

C\/ \u2014 non-periodic comet.
\n2025 \u2014 the year of discovery.
\nN1 \u2014 the first object discovered in the first half of July (the \u201cN\u201d period).
\nATLAS \u2014 the discovery project.<\/p>\n

3I\/ATLAS is the other designation, which also follows the IAU naming system, but emphasizes the comet\u2019s interstellar nature:<\/p>\n

3I shows it\u2019s the third confirmed interstellar object (after 1I\/\u2018Oumuamua and 2I\/Borisov).
\nATLAS again refers to the discovery project.<\/p>\n

So, C\/2025 N1 (ATLAS) places the comet in the catalog of Solar System comets, while 3I\/ATLAS emphasizes its unique status as an interstellar visitor. Both names are correct \u2014 they just tell the story from different angles.<\/p>\n

Comet 3I\/ATLAS discovery\"3I\/ATLAS\"\/Here\u2019s the glimpse of interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS, captured on discovery day \u2014 July 1, 2025.<\/p>\n

The comet was discovered on July 1, 2025, by an automated telescope of the ATLAS project<\/a> in Chile, which was created to search for potentially hazardous asteroids<\/a>. In the images, the object appeared as a very faint 20th-magnitude star, located about 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun. Already the next day, calculations showed that its trajectory was not closed and had a hyperbolic shape. This meant the body had arrived from beyond the Solar System. On July 2, the Minor Planet Center officially confirmed its interstellar status.<\/p>\n

Initially, the object was thought to be an asteroid, but subsequent observations revealed signs of cometary activity, including a small coma and a short tail. Over the following weeks, its brightness increased slowly, and it became clear that this was a full-fledged comet.<\/p>\n

Why are interstellar comets like 3I\/ATLAS so rare?<\/p>\n

Most comets we see in the night sky belong to the Solar System. They were born billions of years ago in distant regions such as the Oort Cloud<\/a> or Kuiper Belt<\/a> and follow long, elliptical orbits around the Sun. Sometimes planetary gravity tweaks their paths, but they remain bound to our star.<\/p>\n

An interstellar comet, however, has a completely different story. It forms in another planetary system and then receives such a strong gravitational \u201ckick\u201d from planets or passing stars that it is ejected forever. From that moment, it drifts through the galaxy for millions or even billions of years, until by sheer chance it passes through the Solar System. That chance is vanishingly small \u2014 which is why only three interstellar objects have been identified so far, with 3I\/ATLAS among them.<\/p>\n

Why do astronomers pay so much attention to interstellar objects?<\/p>\n

Interstellar visitors like 3I\/ATLAS are priceless to science because they act as natural messengers from other star systems. Unlike local comets, which were born in our own Solar System, these objects formed around entirely different stars and then wandered across the galaxy for millions or even billions of years before reaching us.<\/p>\n

Studying them lets astronomers compare how planets and comets form under different conditions. Observations of 3I\/ATLAS show that its composition most certainly includes water and carbon dioxide \u2013 the same ingredients we see in many Solar System comets. This suggests that the recipe for building comets, and perhaps even the raw materials for planets, may be surprisingly similar across the galaxy.<\/p>\n

Comet 3I\/ATLAS: to sum up<\/p>\n

Comet 3I\/ATLAS (C\/2025 N1) is only the third interstellar object ever spotted in our Solar System, after \u2018Oumuamua and 2I\/Borisov. It\u2019s large \u2014 with a nucleus estimated at 0.6\u20135.6 km across \u2014 and fast, racing along at about 210,000 km\/h. While it won\u2019t become visible to the naked eye, telescopes should reveal it at around magnitude 11-12 in late November 2025. Don\u2019t miss your chance to track a messenger from another star system! With the free Sky Tonight app<\/a>, you can find comet 3I\/ATLAS in seconds, plan your observing sessions, and follow its journey across the constellations.<\/p>\n

Visible right now: explore the other comets drawing everyone\u2019s attention<\/p>\n

Along with 3I\/ATLAS, there are two more comets visible in the sky in November! Check our regularly updated article about the best comets to see right now<\/a> to stay up to date with all the sky\u2019s brightest travelers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year, we\u2019re welcoming a rare guest in our skies \u2013 the interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS! It\u2019s only the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273080,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[64,63,128,285],"class_list":{"0":"post-273079","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-space"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}