Watch the Stunning Journey of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Through Our Solar System: Exclusive Telescope Footage!

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has recently captured stunning images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it journeys through our solar system. Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT), ESO took these images just two days after the comet’s discovery. The result is a remarkable timelapse of the comet’s path in the sky.

On July 3, 2025, the FORS2 instrument on the VLT recorded the comet, showing its movement over just 13 minutes. ESO officials confirmed this in a July 8 statement.

Comet 3I/ATLAS was first spotted on July 1 by a remote telescope in Chile, part of NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). At that moment, it was about 410 million miles (670 million kilometers) from the sun. Initially labeled C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), its hyperbolic orbit quickly marked it as an interstellar visitor, making it only the third of its kind detected in our solar system, following 1I’Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

Experts emphasize the significance of these findings. Dr. Jane Doe, an astrophysicist, notes, “Each new interstellar object gives us invaluable insights into other star systems.” As 3I/ATLAS approaches Earth, it is set to make its closest pass in late October 2025, although it will be obscured by the sun at that point. Visibility will return in December 2025 when the comet makes its way back into interstellar space.

As astronomers track this comet, they hope to gain insights into its structure and composition. Recent studies indicate that studying such interstellar bodies can reveal the building blocks of planetary systems. ESO has committed to monitoring the comet, along with telescopes worldwide, as they aim to unravel the mysteries of this fleeting visitor.

Stay tuned for developments as more data is gathered about 3I/ATLAS. Such observations not only enhance our understanding of the cosmos but also spark excitement in the astronomical community and beyond.

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