Astronomers have made a thrilling discovery: interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is wobbling, revealing secrets about its behavior. They observed this phenomenon using the Two-meter Twin Telescope at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife. It turns out that 3I/ATLAS spins on its axis every 14 to 17 hours, making it the first interstellar comet with a known rotation period linked to its visible activity. Surprisingly, despite hailing from another star system, its behavior is quite similar to familiar comets, earning it the label of an “extraordinarily normal interstellar comet.” These findings were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
In an interesting twist, NASA recently held a briefing to address ongoing speculation about the comet’s nature. They confirmed that, while people have entertained theories suggesting it could be an alien spacecraft, 3I/ATLAS is indeed just a comet. NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya made it clear that what makes it fascinating is its journey through our solar system. He expressed a longing to find signs of life in the universe, but firmly stated, “3I/ATLAS is a comet.”
3I/ATLAS is not the first object from beyond our solar system to visit us; it’s the third. The comets ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov previously made their rounds, each providing valuable insights into cosmic phenomena. As it whizzes past Earth on December 19, 2025, at a distance of around 168 million miles, it provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study its characteristics closely.
From this close encounter, astronomers hope to gather data that can shed light on the building blocks of our solar system. “This comet has been traveling through the Milky Way for billions of years,” says Darryl Z. Seligman, a physicist and astronomer at Michigan State University. “We get front-row seats to observe it for possibly the first time as it comes close to a star.”
Social media has been abuzz with excitement as people anticipate the comet’s arrival, marking it as a highlight for space enthusiasts everywhere. Still, due to its faintness, viewers will need powerful telescopes to catch a glimpse—preferably devices with an 8-inch aperture or larger. Those without such equipment can follow the livestream hosted by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project, which will showcase the flyby.
As scientists prepare for 3I/ATLAS’s closest approach, tracking tools like NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System are available for the public to engage with the comet’s journey. What do you think? Is there more to 3I/ATLAS than meets the eye?
For further reading on this remarkable interstellar visitor, check out NASA’s resources and observe how comet 3I/ATLAS is shaping the future of cosmic research.
