A new, mysterious traveler of the deep space has entered the Solar System. It is the comet 3i/Atlasan interstellar object that comes from who knows as a very distant corner of the galaxy. It is an extremely rare event: It is only the third interstellar body never observed so far. Tonight, Thursday 3 July 2025starting from 23:50it will be possible to follow his passage in Direct free streaming thanks to Virtual Telescope Projectled by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi.
3i/Atlas does not come from here
The first to identify this comet was Atlasa NASA surveillance system with base in Chile. It was the June 14th When the tools of the program understood the object for the first time, initially identified as a simple asteroid (temporary name: A11PL3Z). Only later, at the dawn of the July 1stthe observation of a Very small comets – as soon as 3 seconds of arcas the INAF explained – made it possible to identify it as A real icy comet.
It was at that point that the experts of the Minor Planet Centerthe official center of the International astronomical union For the classification of minor bodies, they attributed the name 3i/Atlas. The number 3i (where “i” is about to “interstellar”) clearly indicates that it is of the third interstellar object never intercepted in our solar system, after the mysterious spatial cigar 1i/’Oumuamua In 2017 and the comet 2i/Borisov In 2019.
3i/Atlas is traveling to 245,000 km/he will never return
Currently, 3i/Atlas is located in 3,4 Astronomical units from the earth – about 510 million kilometers – and 4.4 Ua from the sun. His impressive speed of 60 km per second (equal to 245,000 km/h) confirms the alien origin of the object: it is not gradually linked to our sun, and in fact his hyperbolic orbitwith eccentricity equal to 6.2will lead him out of the sun systemto never return.
The comet currently moves in the constellation of the Sagittarius and is directed towards The orbit of Marsbut it does not represent any danger for our planet. His estimated diameter is about 20 kilometersalmost double the asteroid that 66 million years ago hit the earth in the area occupied today by the Yucatán peninsula, causing The extinction of dinosaurs and 75% of the living species. A possible impact with such an object would have effects today catastrophic and irreversiblebut.
The moment of maximum proximity to the sun (Perielio) It will be the 29 Octoberwhile the perigee – the slightest distance from the earth – the December 19thwhen the comet will pass to about 1.8 ua from usor 270 million kilometersin the constellation of the lion. The October 2ndon the other hand, will pass through 50 million kilometers from Mars.
Where and how to see live 3i/Atlas
Tonight, Thursday July 3rdThe Virtual Telescope Project will transmit a direct online to allow anyone to observe 3i/Atlas in real time. The vision will begin at 23:50perfect time for those who love night sky. The project, led by astrophysicist Gianluca Masihas already published several spectacular images of the object and will continue to monitor it in the coming weeks.
The comet is already observable with amateur telescopesin particular with instruments with a diameter between 150 and 200 millimeters. It was also officially called also called C/2025 n1after confirmation of his commercial activity.
It is a unique opportunity: interstellar objects like this are very rare events And they represent a fundamental opportunity to understand the composition and behavior of celestial bodies from other star systems. And for us, simple observers from the ground, it is an invitation to raise your eyes and be fascinated by a fragment of the universe that crosses us and then disappears forever.
