3I/ATLAS

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the Scientist Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab), CC BY 4.0

Interstellar comet passing through the Solar System, discovered in July 2025

3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and previously as A11pl3Z, is an interstellar comet discovered on 1 July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station. The comet follows an unbound, hyperbolic trajectory past the Sun, and passed by Earth at 1.8 AU, posing no threat. The prefix "3I" designates it as the third confirmed interstellar object passing through the Solar System, after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov.

Wikipedia

Science

Interstellar Comet Origin Traced

A new study has pinpointed the origin of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to a frigid, isolated region of the galaxy.

Interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS formed in a world much colder than the solar system Space.com — Apr 23, 16:03 PM
Interstellar comet likely came from a cold corner of the Milky Way: study CTV News — Apr 23, 12:35 PM
Scientists trace latest interstellar comet's home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way CTV News — Apr 23, 10:49 AM
Scientists trace latest interstellar comet's home to a corner of the Milky Way ABC News — Apr 23, 09:30 AM
Comet 3I/Atlas likely originated in a cold corner of the Milky Way Associated Press — Apr 23, 09:11 AM
Scientists trace latest interstellar comet's home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way The Independent — Apr 23, 09:11 AM