Goodbye, Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Journey into the Void
Today marks the farewell of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, a cosmic traveler that has captured our imagination. This comet is currently on its one-way trip out of our solar system. You can catch it live through a stream from the Virtual Telescope Project starting at 5 p.m. EST. The telescope is located in Manciano, Italy, and if the weather allows, you’ll get a view of this fascinating object.
Gianluca Masi, the founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, highlighted the rarity of this event. He called it a chance to witness “one of the most important discoveries of the last decade” in real-time.
3I/ATLAS was spotted on July 1, 2025. It is only the third known interstellar object visiting our solar system. Its path confirmed it wasn’t bound to the Sun, making its trajectory unique. It made its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, brightening unexpectedly, which surprised many scientists. After that, it zipped past Earth on December 19, 168 million miles away.
The comet is headed for another encounter, this time with Jupiter, set for March when it will pass at about 33.4 million miles. After that, 3I/ATLAS will drift away into the vastness of space, traveling through the Oort cloud—a region filled with icy bodies—on its long journey into interstellar space.
Interestingly, a recent poll showed that over 70% of people are interested in space events like this one. Social media buzz around the comet has been strong, with many sharing their thoughts and excitement about watching it live.
As we say goodbye to 3I/ATLAS, it reminds us of the wonders of our universe and the mysteries that still lie out there. To learn more about space and other astronomical events, check out NASA’s website.
