On 1 July 2025, astronomers using the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, detected a faint, fast-moving object unlike anything seen before.

The discovery, officially named 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1), marks only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed - after ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

But what exactly is 3I/ATLAS, where is it going, and could this strange visitor from another star be more than just a comet?

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WHAT IS 3I/ATLAS?

3I/ATLAS is largely believed to be a comet - it has a tail, is brightening as it approaches the Sun, and shows signs of dust and gas being released.

Its name was derived from its origins: “3” for the third interstell

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