See It Before It’s Gone, Comet 3I/ATLAS Makes Its Final Appearance in Earth’s Skies (Image: NASA)
Science
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Moneycontrol16-01-2026, 17:16

Last Chance to Witness Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Before it Exits Solar System

  • Comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar visitor, is making its final appearance before leaving the solar system permanently.
  • Discovered in mid-2025 by the ATLAS survey in Chile, its highly hyperbolic orbit confirmed its origin from another star system.
  • It is only the third known interstellar object observed, following 'Oumuamua (2017) and Borisov (2019).
  • The comet is currently visible in pre-dawn skies for Northern Hemisphere observers until spring, requiring powerful telescopes for viewing.
  • A final livestream by The Virtual Telescope Project from Manciano, Italy, is scheduled for January 16, 2026, at 21:00 UTC.

Why It Matters: Catch the final glimpse of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS before it departs our solar system forever.

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