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last mo.

NASA Releases Multi-Mission Images Confirming 3I/ATLAS as an Interstellar Comet

The disclosure follows weeks of restricted access during a federal shutdown that fueled speculation about the object’s nature.

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Overview

  • NASA published images and data captured by eight platforms, including Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Lucy, SOHO, STEREO-A and the Perseverance rover.
  • Agency officials affirmed the object is a natural, active comet and reported no detected technological signatures.
  • Preliminary analyses indicate atypical chemistry and dust behavior, including unusual carbon dioxide–to–water and nickel–to–iron ratios without evidence of artificial origin.
  • Unique geometries yielded complementary results, with Lucy’s backlit view, MAVEN’s ultraviolet detections tied to water loss and MRO’s close-geometry image near Mars.
  • The comet follows a hyperbolic, high-speed escape path, poses no threat to Earth, will pass nearest to Earth on December 19 at roughly 274 million kilometers and could be observed again near Jupiter next spring.