The comet 3I/ATLAS, officially designated C/2025 N1, is the third confirmed interstellar object to enter the Solar System. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, the comet has been observed extensively by ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope. Recent observations suggest that 3I/ATLAS resembles comets originating from the outer regions of our Solar System but is likely smaller than initially estimated, with its core size ranging between 320 meters and 5.6 kilometers. The comet's passage through the dense star field has been captured in detailed images, revealing a vivid tail and a compact coma composed of gas and dust surrounding its icy core. Scientists have noted the comet's unusual trajectory through the heart of the Solar System, prompting some speculation about its nature, including hypotheses about potential alien technology. Observations are expected to continue until September 2025, after which the comet will become obscured by solar glare.
La extraña trayectoria del cometa 3I/ATLAS pone los pelos de punta a los astrónomos: podría ser tecnología alienígena https://t.co/FDHSi4kjGm
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The latest observations of 3I/ATLAS suggest it resembles comets from the outer reaches of our solar system, but may be smaller than initially estimated https://t.co/SjZLa4BxSw