Image Source: Color photo of 3I/ATLAS by the Gemini South Observatory on 27 August 2025
In July 2025, astronomers find a rare space traveller which is an interstellar comet called 3I/ATLAS, also known as NASA ATLAS 3I. It became the third interstellar visitor to ever enter our Solar System after 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
The ATLAS survey team in Chile caught it as it was moving through space on a path coming from outside our Solar System. Since scientists followed its path and watched its strange moves and long journey from faraway space. They are trying to learn more about how stars and planets form in other places.
ATLAS 3I Update: Where Did It Come From?
The comet 3I/ATLAS doesn’t belong in our Solar System. It’s a hyperbolic orbit confirms which originates outside the Sun’s gravitational influence, which signifies that it was from another star system billions of years ago.
In October 2025, 3I/ATLAS will be closest to the Sun. This moment is called “perihelion.” After that, top space research labs like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Europe’s Mars robots monitor it closely.
What Makes 3I/ATLAS Unique?
Image source: Image of 3I/Atlas comet orbit fetch from NASA official site
Most comets are rich in water, ice but this 3I/ATLAS has shown a large composition of Carbon dioxide(CO₂), which is rare. This thing draws the scientist’s attention and let them think that it may have formed in a colder or different environment which is not like anything near our Sun.
Here’s what scientists observed:
- A wide gas cloud, also called a coma and jet streams
- A long dust tail grew slowly but the dust bits might be bigger than normal
- The comet stayed active even when it was far away from the Sun
These observations help scientists learn how comets act in other star systems and give clues about planet formation apart from our own galaxy.
Is 3I/ATLAS Alien?
3I/ATLAS is not artificial or evidence of extraterrestrial life, but it is “alien” in origin which means it was formed around another star.
This makes it an interstellar traveller that likely spent millions or even billions of years moving slowly through space before passing through our Solar System.
Why NASA and Scientists Care
NASA and other space agencies are treating 3I/ATLAS as a natural time capsule. It holds vital clues about:
- Conditions in other planetary systems
- How solar systems eject comets
- The diversity of materials across the galaxy
By comparing ATLAS 3I’s properties with known comets like Borisov or those in the Kuiper Belt, researchers can map out the chemical diversity of space and understand whether our Solar System is typical or unique.
What Happens Next?
While 3I ATLAS won’t be visible to the naked eye due to its distance and low brightness, telescopes worldwide will continue observing it as it exits the Solar System.
Expect continued 3I ATLAS update from NASA, ESA, and ground-based observatories, especially regarding its chemical analysis and tail structure.
Final Thoughts
NASA ATLAS 3I also known as comet 3I/ATLAS is more than just a scientific thing. It’s a rare visitor from another star system, offering a chance to look at the raw materials that built planets far beyond our own.
So while it may not be “alien” in the sci-fi sense but 3I/ATLAS is undeniably a stranger from the stars and a reminder of just how connected our galaxy really is.
