Overview
- The agency released a coordinated set of photos and data from spacecraft including Hubble, JWST, Lucy, MAVEN, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, STEREO, SOHO and PUNCH after a shutdown‑related delay.
- 3I/ATLAS passed about 19 million miles from Mars in early October, reached perihelion around Oct. 30, and will pass safely by Earth on Dec. 19 at roughly 170 million miles.
- Scientists report a coma rich in carbon dioxide with water, carbon monoxide and cyanide detected, and some teams note notable nickel signals now under analysis.
- Hubble‑based estimates place the nucleus between roughly 1,400 feet and 3.5 miles across, making it potentially larger than previously seen interstellar visitors.
- Tracked on a hyperbolic path and moving up to about 153,000 mph near the Sun, the object is the third confirmed interstellar visitor, and NASA officials reject claims of an artificial origin.