Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Close Encounter Reveals X-ray Glow, Anti-Tail Mystery

• 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet, was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Chile.
• It came closest to Earth on December 19, 2025, at 270 million km, posing no danger, and is now exiting the solar system.
• New findings include an unprecedented X-ray glow detected by ESA's XMM-Newton and Japan's XRISM.
• It displayed a rare 500,000 km long "anti-tail" pointing towards the Sun, defying typical comet behavior.
• Scientists are studying its composition and origin from an old star, expecting more insights into interstellar objects.

Why It Matters: 3I/ATLAS offered unique insights into interstellar comets with its X-ray glow and anti-tail.