Overview
- The comet’s closest approach to the Sun occurs around October 29–30 at roughly 1.36–1.4 AU, and its nearest distance to Earth will be about 1.8 AU, ruling out any impact risk.
- JWST and other telescopes report an unusually high carbon dioxide abundance relative to water, with active jets and dust behavior expected to peak near perihelion.
- The International Asteroid Warning Network, working with the Minor Planet Center and space agencies, has scheduled a reinforced astrometric campaign from November 27, 2025 to January 27, 2026 to refine its trajectory and test coordination.
- Observing geometry near the Sun limits public viewing now, but professional assets including Hubble, JWST, TESS and Mars-based instruments are collecting data, with improved Earth-based visibility expected in December.
- 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar visitor after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov, and despite public speculation about artificial origins, expert assessments characterize it as a natural comet based on current evidence.