A rare object was captured against the backdrop of other constellations.
Most known comets are local objects that formed within our Solar System. However, Comet 3I/ATLAS is an exception—it is only the third confirmed interstellar object in observational history to have arrived from deep space.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory in Chile obtained a series of images of the comet’s motion across the night sky. The shots, taken over 13 minutes, demonstrate the object’s trajectory through the constellation. To create the final high-definition image, astronomers combined numerous frames that captured the comet’s path.
Currently, 3I/ATLAS continues to move towards the inner regions of the Solar System. According to calculations, its closest approach to Earth will occur in late October 2025. During this period, the comet will be hidden from observations due to its proximity to the Sun.
In December 2025, astronomers expect the object to become visible again as it begins to leave the Solar System and head back into interstellar space. By that time, the Hubble, Webb, and SPHEREx space observatories, as well as the ground-based Gemini North telescope, will join the observations, allowing for even more detailed data to be gathered about this unique cosmic traveler.
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), 3I/ATLAS joined the exclusive list of interstellar visitors to the Solar System, which previously included only 1I/’Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
