Overview
- The third confirmed interstellar object is in solar conjunction ahead of a closest‑to‑Sun pass around October 29, temporarily halting Earth‑based viewing until early December.
- The International Asteroid Warning Network set a first‑ever interstellar target campaign from November 27 to January 27 to refine astrometry and orbit predictions.
- Models indicate NASA’s Europa Clipper and ESA’s Hera could traverse the object’s ion tail between October 25 and November 6 depending on solar‑wind conditions.
- Recent high‑resolution images show a prominent sunward jet and reports of a transition to a conventional tail, consistent with strong CO2‑driven activity seen earlier.
- While a minority, notably Avi Loeb, speculates about an artificial origin and potential perihelion maneuvers, NASA and most scientists describe 3I/ATLAS as an unusual but natural comet with no risk to Earth.