Key Highlights
- NASA will unveil new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
- The comet was discovered by ATLAS observatory in July and is the third interstellar comet found in our solar system.
- Comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 29, 2025, at about 130 million miles from Earth.
- The briefing will feature NASA officials including Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya and lead scientist Tom Statler.
NASA Unveils New Views of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
On Wednesday, November 19, at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT), NASA will host a press conference to reveal new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This event can be watched live on Space.com or directly through NASA’s official channels.
The interstellar comet was discovered by ATLAS observatory in July 2025, making it the third such comet found within our solar system after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov. 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the sun on October 29, 2025, at a distance of about 130 million miles (210 million kilometers).
Comet’s Closest Approach
The comet also approached Mars in October 2025, coming within approximately 19 million miles (30 million km) from the Red Planet. Its closest approach to Earth is scheduled for December 19, 2025, at a distance of roughly 170 million miles (270 million kilometers).
Science Mission Highlights
The new imagery unveiled on Wednesday will likely showcase increased cometary activity caused by the solar passage. NASA stated that assets within its science missions provide unique capabilities to observe 3I/ATLAS almost throughout its transit through our celestial neighborhood.
“Assets within NASA’s science missions give the United States the unique capability to observe 3I/ATLAS almost the entire time it passes through our celestial neighborhood, and study — with complementary scientific instruments and from different directions — how the comet behaves,” NASA officials said in a statement.
Press Conference Participants
The briefing will feature several key figures from NASA:
- NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya
- Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
- Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division
- Tom Statler, NASA lead scientist for solar system small bodies
The event promises to provide valuable insights into the behavior and characteristics of 3I/ATLAS as it continues its journey through our solar system. Stay tuned for live updates from the press conference.
