Home / Science / Hubble's Latest Glimpse: Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches Earth
Hubble's Latest Glimpse: Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches Earth
8 Dec
Summary
- Hubble telescope captured new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
- Comet 3I/ATLAS is expected to pass Earth in December.
- NASA and ESA have observed the comet's active state and features.
New images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope offer a stunning view of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which is on a trajectory to pass Earth in December. This cosmic visitor, first detected in July, originated from beyond our solar system and is traveling at approximately 137,000 miles per hour. Its unique hyperbolic orbit ensures it will eventually depart our solar system forever.
Hubble's latest observations, taken on November 30 when the comet was 178 million miles away, reveal its active nature. The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) also recently observed 3I/ATLAS between November 2 and November 25, noting its coma and distinct gas and dust tails. These observations help astronomers estimate the comet's nucleus size, potentially ranging from 1,400 feet to 3.5 miles wide.
While the comet's journey has fueled speculation about alien origins, NASA officials have firmly dismissed these theories, affirming it is a natural phenomenon. The comet will pass within about 170 million miles of Earth and will be observable with telescopes until spring 2026. It poses no threat to our planet.
