IN SEARCH OF 3I ATLAS [ep.01]

Steven Bourne
6 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Tags: 3I/ATLAS, interstellar comet, astronomy, comets, ATLAS telescope, NASA, space news

Comet 3I/ATLAS Explained: The Facts, the Timeline, and Why the Internet Lost Its Mind

An interstellar object shows up… and within hours the internet splits into three camps:

It’s just a comet.
It’s a psyop (“Project Blue Beam”).
It’s spiritual / consciousness / portal stuff.

Here’s the difference between an interesting conversation and embarrassing content:

You can explore the theories — but you must separate fact from fiction.

This post is the facts hub: what 3I/ATLAS is, where it came from, the timeline, and what NASA actually says.

Quick answer: what is 3I/ATLAS?

3I/ATLAS is a real interstellar comet (not from our solar system) discovered on July 1, 2025 by the NASA‑funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, then reported to the Minor Planet Center. (NASA Science)

It’s the third confirmed interstellar object detected passing through our solar system — hence 3I. (NASA Science)

Quick facts:

Discovered: July 1, 2025 (ATLAS, Chile). (NASA Science)
Type: A comet (icy nucleus + coma). (NASA Science)
Orbit: Hyperbolic trajectory → it’s passing through, not orbiting the Sun. (NASA Science)
Perihelion (closest to Sun): Oct 30, 2025 at ~1.4 AU (just outside Mars’ orbit). (NASA Science)
Closest approach to Earth: Dec 19, 2025 at ~1.8 AU (~270 million km / 170 million miles). (NASA Science)
Threat to Earth: None. (NASA Science)
Visibility: Observable again after passing behind the Sun; NASA says it was observable in the pre‑dawn sky and remains observable until spring 2026. (NASA Science)

What does “3I/ATLAS” actually mean?

NASA spells it out clearly:

3 = third confirmed
I = interstellar object
ATLAS = discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial‑impact Last Alert System survey telescope (NASA Science)

You’ll also see other designations in coverage and papers, including C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and a prior provisional identifier A11pl3Z. (arXiv)

Is 3I/ATLAS dangerous?

No.

NASA states there is no danger to Earth, and at closest approach it was still about 1.8 AU away — nearly twice the Earth‑Sun distance. (NASA Science)

Translation: “interstellar” does not mean “near us.” It means “not originally from here.”

Why scientists care about it

Because interstellar objects are rare and valuable.

NASA explicitly notes 3I/ATLAS is scientifically important because differences from local comets may help reveal the composition of other solar systems. (NASA Science)

Where did it come from?

NASA says 3I/ATLAS formed in another star system and drifted for millions or billions of years before arriving, approaching from the general direction of the constellation Sagittarius. (NASA Science)

That’s a big sky region — useful scientifically, but not a magical “alignment” by itself.

3I/ATLAS timeline

July 1, 2025 — DiscoveryDiscovered by NASA‑funded ATLAS telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile and reported to MPC. (NASA Science)
Oct 30, 2025 — Perihelion (closest to the Sun)~1.4 AU from the Sun, just outside Mars’ orbit. (NASA Science)
Oct 31, 2025 — Observations resumeNASA notes the comet passed behind the Sun in October and observations resumed Oct 31. (NASA Science)
Dec 19, 2025 — Closest approach to Earth~1.8 AU (~270 million km / 170 million miles). (NASA Science)
Spring 2026 — Still observableNASA says it can remain observable (small telescope) in the pre‑dawn sky until spring 2026. (NASA Science)

Step‑by‑step: how to track 3I/ATLAS

Step 1 — Use NASA’s tracking tool
NASA points to “Eyes on the Solar System” to track current location and path. (NASA Science)
Step 2 — Confirm visibility before you waste time
NASA states the comet became observable again after passing behind the Sun and can be observed with a small telescope in the pre‑dawn sky (until spring 2026). (NASA Science)

Step 3 — Don’t confuse “pretty” with “close”
Comets can look dramatic and still be extremely far away. Closest to Earth was still ~270 million km. (NASA Science)

FAQ

Can you see 3I/ATLAS with the naked eye?

NASA says it can be observed with a small telescope; naked-eye visibility depends on brightness and conditions, and is not guaranteed. (NASA Science)

How fast is 3I/ATLAS moving?

NASA reports it was traveling about 137,000 mph when discovered and reached about 153,000 mph near perihelion. (NASA Science)

Is 3I/ATLAS an asteroid?

NASA categorizes it as a comet because it’s active with an icy nucleus and coma. (NASA Science)