See all the new images NASA has taken of the interstellar comet
NASA has confirmed that Comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor speeding through our solar system, is indeed a comet, dispelling rampant online conspiracy theories that suggested it might be alien technology. During a recent press conference, NASA scientists unveiled stunning images captured by a variety of spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, as part of a concerted effort to gather data on this fascinating celestial object before it disappears from view. Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator, emphasized that all evidence supports the comet’s natural origins, noting its typical behavior and characteristics as a comet, despite its unusual interstellar journey.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is particularly intriguing as it originated from another star system, likely ejected by a gravitational interaction with a planet or passing star. Traveling at an astonishing speed of 137,000 mph, it is too fast to be captured by the Sun’s gravity, meaning it will never return to our solar system. NASA assures that the comet poses no threat to Earth, with its closest approach being a safe 170 million miles away. This comet is only the third confirmed interstellar object, following ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. Scientists are particularly excited about the unique characteristics of 3I/ATLAS, such as its unusual carbon dioxide-to-water ratio and unexpected amounts of metals and dust, which differ from typical solar system comets. These observations could provide valuable insights into the building blocks of other planetary systems, enhancing our understanding of cosmic formation and evolution.
The challenge of capturing clear images of Comet 3I/ATLAS has pushed NASA’s fleet of spacecraft to their limits, as each instrument has different viewing angles and constraints. Tom Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies, likened the endeavor to a baseball game, where multiple observers attempt to capture the same action from various vantage points. This collaborative approach is crucial, as it allows scientists to compile a comprehensive view of the comet and its properties. As researchers continue to analyze the data collected, they hope to uncover more about the origins of this interstellar wanderer and what it can teach us about the universe beyond our solar system.
A
comet
hurtling through the solar system from interstellar
space
is exactly what it appears to be,
NASA
officials said Wednesday, moving to quash a wave of online speculation.
At a news conference, scientists released new spacecraft images of
Comet 3I/ATLAS
and described a full-court press to photograph the object before it disappears for good. NASA has pointed an array of observatories at the comet — including the Hubble and
James Webb Space Telescope
, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Lucy and Psyche missions — to capture as much data as possible while it remains within view.
Conspiracy theories flourished during the
federal government shutdown
, some claiming the comet was alien technology. The pause in federal communications let rumors spread unchecked, said Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator.
“It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points to it being a comet,” he said. “But this one came from outside the solar system, which makes it fascinating, exciting, and scientifically very important.”
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Comet 3I/ATLAS
formed around another star
and was later ejected — likely by a gravitational jolt from a planet or passing star — before drifting across interstellar space for hundreds of millions of years. It entered the solar system traveling roughly 137,000 mph, a speed too high for the
sun
’s gravity to trap it. The comet is never expected to return.
NASA says the object poses no threat to Earth. The
closest it will ever come
to our planet is 170 million miles away.
NASA and the European Space Agency’s SOHO mission observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between Oct. 15 and 26, 2025.
Credit: Lowell Observatory / Qicheng Zhang
NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft watched the interstellar comet between Sept. 11 and 25, 2025, to achieve this stacked image..
Credit: NASA / Lowell Observatory / Qicheng Zhang
Only two other confirmed interstellar visitors have ever been recorded:
‘Oumuamua
in 2017 and
Comet 2I/Borisov
in 2019.
Comets are balls of ice and rock that
heat up
as they near the sun, releasing gas and dust in bright,
sweeping tails
. Most known comets are leftovers from the solar system’s formation 4.6 billion years ago, though thousands more likely lurk beyond Neptune in the
Kuiper Belt
and, farther still, in the
Oort Cloud
.
Because 3I/ATLAS comes from a different stellar neighborhood, scientists expect some surprises. Early readings show that its carbon dioxide–to–water ratio does not match typical solar system comets, and researchers have spotted some unusual amounts of metals and dust features.
The PUNCH mission’s view was from about 235 million miles away between Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 2025.
Credit: NASA / Southwest Research Institute
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft captured an ultraviolet image of the comet’s halo of gas and dust on Oct. 9, 2025.
Credit: NASA Goddard / LASP / CU Boulder
But none of those traits, NASA officials emphasized, suggest anything artificial.
“It’s going to look different because it didn’t come from our solar system,” said Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for the science mission directorate. “And that’s what makes it so magical.”
The Psyche spacecraft watched the comet between Sept. 8 and 9, 2025.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU
The Lucy spacecraft saw the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from 240 million miles away on Sept. 16, 2025.
Credit: NASA Goddard / SwRI / JHU-APL
Capturing clear images has pushed NASA’s fleet to its limits. Each spacecraft is watching from a different angle, with its own viewing constraints and camera quirks.
“Remember, space is big,” said Tom Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies. “Nothing is ever really as close as you like, and all of these observations are very, very difficult. It’s a little bit as if our NASA spacecraft were at a baseball game, watching the game from different places in the stadium. Everybody has got a camera, and they’re trying to get a picture of the ball, and nobody has a perfect view, and everybody has a different camera.”
Scientists say the observations will help them understand the raw materials in other planetary systems and provide insight into how they form.
