Where will 3I/ATLAS be on October 29?
Where will 3I/ATLAS be on October 29? The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun on October 29, 2025. NASA and Newsweek reports state that this will be at a distance of about 1.4 astronomical units (au), or roughly 210 million kilometers from the Sun.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Distance from Earth and Sun
The closest the comet will approach Earth is approximately 1.8 au, which equals 270 million kilometers or 170 million miles. NASA confirms that the comet will pass inside the orbit of Mars as it reaches its perihelion around October 30. Ground-based telescopes will track 3I/ATLAS until September, after which it will be too close to the Sun to observe. It will reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December for renewed observations.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Discovery and Origin
3I/ATLAS was first detected by scientists in Chile using the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope on July 1, 2025. At the time, the comet was about 670 million kilometers from Earth. Observations showed a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust surrounding a solid icy nucleus.
This comet is the third known interstellar object discovered passing through our solar system. The previous two were 1I/Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Its hyperbolic orbit confirms it comes from outside the solar system. ESA and NASA state that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Unique Characteristics
The comet has a high carbon dioxide-to-water ratio. Recent studies in the Astrophysical Journal Letters reported water activity far from the Sun. Hydroxyl gas, a by-product of water, was detected at nearly three times the Earth-Sun distance. NASA estimates the comet releases about 40 kg of water per second.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Conspiracy Theories
Some online reports falsely claimed 3I/ATLAS was a massive “city killer” or a spaceship. Scientists clarified that the comet’s unusual properties are natural. Harvard professor Abraham Loeb suggested possible alien technology due to eight anomalies, including higher nickel content in its gas plume and faster speed than previous interstellar comets.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Scientific Significance
Darryl Seligman, a physics and astronomy professor at Michigan State University, described 3I/ATLAS as an important discovery. It helps scientists study objects from outside the solar system. Observations of its orbit, composition, and water release provide insights into interstellar bodies.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet Future Observation
3I/ATLAS will remain unobservable while near the Sun but will reappear by early December. Astronomers worldwide plan to track the comet as it moves away from the Sun. Its unique properties will continue to be a subject of research.
FAQs
Will 3I/ATLAS hit Earth?
No. NASA confirms 3I/ATLAS will stay far from Earth, with a minimum distance of 1.8 au, or 270 million kilometers, posing no threat.
When can 3I/ATLAS be observed again?
The comet will reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December 2025, allowing renewed observation with ground-based telescopes.