Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS makes its closest method to Earth on Dec. 19. This is how one can observe its progress each in the course of the move and because it races out of the photo voltaic system on its method to interstellar area, by no means to be seen once more.
3I/ATLAS was found on July 1 earlier this 12 months by astronomers utilizing the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Final Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescopes, which scan the night time sky searching for transferring objects that would at some point pose a risk to Earth.
3I/ATLAS came closest to the sun on Oct. 31, when it advanced within 130 million miles (210 kilometers) from our parent star. At its closest approach to Earth — which will occur at 1 a.m. EST (0600 MGT) on Dec. 19 — the interstellar visitor will still be separated by a mind-boggling 170 million miles (273 million km) from our Blue Marble.
As such, the interstellar invader won’t be visible to the naked eye, though a 12-inch (30 centimeter) telescope may allow you to spot it as a point of light travelling through a patch of sky below the stars of the constellation Leo on the night of Dec. 19, according to NASA.
Naturally, the overwhelming majority of stargazers will not get to see 3I/ATLAS bid farewell to Earth with their very own eyes. As an alternative, these useful assets — and a livestream — can be utilized to trace the interstellar customer throughout its flyby and within the weeks that observe, because it progressively disappears from our view ceaselessly.
NASA Eyes on the Photo voltaic System.
Observe together with 3I/ATLAS’s trajectory utilizing NASA’s Eyes on the Photo voltaic System, which makes use of knowledge and imagery from company missions to create a classy 3D mannequin of the solar’s area, which visualizes the orbits of planets, moons and spacecraft, together with wandering asteroids and comets.
Simply click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right and search “3I/ATLAS” to see the interstellar invader’s path. On Dec. 19 the comet will be travelling beyond the orbit of Mars ahead of a flyby of the gas giant Jupiter on March 12, 2026.
You can also scroll backwards and forwards through time and select to replay close planetary passes using the intuitive on-screen options to see all the highlights of 3I/ATLAS’s journey through the solar system.
Track 3I/ATLAS’s brightness using the the Comet Observation Database
You can track the average brightness of 3I/ATLAS and other solar system objects using the Comet Observation Database (COBS), courtesy of the Crni Vrh Observatory in Slovenia.
COBS accepts data submissions from amateur astronomers and plots the observations to show how a comet’s lightcurve — or brightness as perceived from Earth — has varied over time. As expected, 3I/ATLAS’s brightness has dipped significantly following its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 29, as it travels further from the warming influence and light of our parent star.
Virtual Telescope Project Livestream
Hoping to catch a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS on Dec. 19, but don’t own a monster telescope capable of spotting it? Then be sure to tune into the Virtual Telescope Project’s free YouTube livestream of the occasion beginning at 11 p.m. EST pm Dec. 18 (0400 GMT on Dec. 19), which can function real-time photos of the comet captured by robotic telescopes situated in Manciano, Italy.
Monitor its place utilizing a smartphone astronomy app
Whereas it is probably not seen to most telescopes, you’ll be able to nonetheless observe the patch of sky containing 3I/ATLAS within the constellation Leo utilizing a trusted smartphone astronomy app such as Stellarium, which uses augmented reality tech to help you find its position in the night sky.
Are you looking to upgrade your skywatching equipment? Then be sure to check out our picks of the best binoculars and telescopes for exploring the post-sunset realm in 2025 and beyond.
