Overview
- The interstellar object is at solar conjunction and is expected to reach perihelion around October 29–30 at roughly 1.4 astronomical units from the Sun.
- ESA assets tracked a close pass by Mars in early October, JUICE is set to observe near peak activity, and JWST and other facilities plan follow‑ups in December.
- The International Asteroid Warning Network and the Minor Planet Center will lead a coordinated global astrometry campaign from November 27, 2025 to January 27, 2026.
- Astronomers report unusual features including a sunward jet/anti‑tail, nickel‑rich emissions with low water, and strong polarization that differ from typical comets.
- NASA and many specialists say 3I/ATLAS poses no threat and behaves as a natural comet, while Avi Loeb and Michio Kaku advance technosignature hypotheses that remain unsubstantiated.