NASA threw almost everything it had at this interstellar visitor. Here is the catch

Interstellar Comet 3i / Atlas has spent the last few months in transit to our solar system. NASA Spacecraft and telescopes snapped images of this celestial visitor during its journey, and after weeks of anticipation, the agency has revealed the never-before-seen images.

During a press conference held at NASA’s Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, scientists showed some of the images of the 3i / atlas, as well as endurance of Mars Rour, among others.

“NASA’s science team has kept a look at 3i/atlas for almost its entire journey through the solar system for the first time,” Nicky Fox, associate administrator during the briefing. “There will be many opportunities to observe this comet as it continues its journey through the solar system, passing Jupiter’s orbit in the spring of 2026.”

3i / Atlas tour in pictures

Since the atlas (asteroid affecting the final impact of awareness) has seen the discovery 3i / Atlas on July 1, this comet has attracted the attention of stars and the Kardashians alike. 3i / atlas is famous from beyond our solar system, and it is only the third object we have ever seen.

When an interstellar comet passes through our cosmic region, it gives astronomers an unprecedented opportunity to study a sample from a distant star system. These objects provide direct insight into the formation, evolution, and geology of the Earth far beyond the reach of spacecraft.

When astronomers confirmed that 3i / Atlas was Indellar, the scientific community jumped into action, using all its tools to begin uncovering the star’s secrets. Early observations suggested 3i / Atlas could be the oldest comet ever discovered and that it is larger and faster than both of the two previously known comets.

As 3i/atlas ascended to our sun, observations of its growing coma and tail revealed some of its characteristics. Using the James Webb Space’s instrument near the Spectroscope

The comet disappeared from Earth’s view in late September as it disappeared into the glare of the sun. But many of NASA’s Mars spacecraft caught glimpses of the 3i / atlas as they flew within 30 million kilometers (30 million miles) of the red planet in early October.

That flight produced some of the images NASA shares today, including the one above, captured by the Maven (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolve) Spacecraft. It shows the ultraviolet output of 3i / Atlas The image below, captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows the comet’s Fuzzy Coma. The Mars / Atlas’s Mars approach not only led to these new images but also helped astronomers analyze the comet’s location and trajectory.

After the 3i / atlas passed by Mars, the SOHO (Solar and Helicol Observational Observatory) Spacecraft imaged the comet between October 15 and 16. At that great time, astronomers did not expect the spacecraft to be able to see the 3i / atlas, but the image below was created using the detailed image processing.

3i/atlas reached perihelion – the closest point to the sun – in late October. The comet swung behind its home star and appeared earlier this month. Now it’s visible from Earth again, and the skydivers behind the telescopes will be able to see 3i / atlas in the Pre-Dawn Sky until spring 2026, according to NASA.

What’s next for 3i / Atlas?

3i / atlas will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, coming within 273 million kilometers (273 million miles) of our Earth. This approach will allow ground-based telescopes to make detailed observations of 3i / Atlas for the time being – and hopefully produce another batch of excellent images.

On its way out of the solar system, 3I/ATLAS will also make an even closer approach to Jupiter in March 2026. Astronomers have proposed adjusting the trajectory of NASA’s Juno spacecraft—which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016—to intercept the comet’s path. juno’s Tools tools can reveal new details about the structure of 3i / Atlas, helping us to better understand the conditions of the system from which it arose.

After its Jupiter flyby, it won’t be long before 3i / atlas leaves our solar system for good. But as it approaches distance, this interstellar comet will leave a treasure trove of data that astronomers will deal with for years.