Overview
- 3I/ATLAS reached closest approach to the Sun at about 11:47 UTC on October 29 at roughly 1.36 AU, a geometry that placed it in solar conjunction and largely out of view from ground observatories.
- NASA and most researchers describe the object as an active natural comet that poses no threat, with its nearest Earth distance expected around 1.8 AU on December 19 and visibility returning for observers in late November to December.
- Spectroscopy teams report unusual signals including nickel vapor and cyanide plus a CO2‑dominated coma, findings that are intriguing but still require confirmation and detailed peer review.
- Spacecraft and space‑based campaigns will resume measurements on the outbound leg, including a favorable look by ESA’s JUICE in early November and additional coordinated observations through winter.
- A minority view led by Avi Loeb frames perihelion as an “acid test” for non‑natural behavior, yet no maneuvering or other technological signatures have been substantiated to date.