Overview
- 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar visitor, made a safe closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19 at roughly 169–170 million miles.
- NASA’s Parker Solar Probe imaged the comet Oct. 18–Nov. 5 with its WISPR camera, gathering about ten images per day during a period when Earth could not observe it, with final calibration ongoing.
- Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph detected hydrogen, oxygen and dust‑related signatures from a sunward vantage, indicating elevated outgassing after perihelion, with complementary perspectives from JUICE and heliophysics missions such as PUNCH, STEREO and SOHO.
- Reports from telescope spectroscopy, including JWST coverage cited by outlets, indicate CO‑rich composition consistent with formation in very cold conditions, reinforcing a natural comet interpretation.
- Trajectory forecasts project a close pass near Jupiter of about 33 million miles around March 16, 2026, which researchers plan to use to refine models of the comet’s composition and dynamics.