Comet 3I/ATLAS third interstellar object ever seen in our Solar System    

What is 3I/ATLAS? 3I/ATLAS (also written as C/2025 N1 ATLAS) is the third confirmed interstellar object ever spotted passing through our Solar System (after ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov). It was discovered in mid-2025 by the ATLAS network (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), a global system designed to spot near-Earth asteroids . Why is it called “interstellar”? Its path is hyperbolic with an eccentricity of about 6.14, meaning it's moving on a trajectory that is not bound to the Sun. This proves it came from beyond our Solar System . Its incoming velocity (relative to the Sun) is around 58 km/s—faster than the previous two interstellar objects . 

Key facts about the comet Initially discovered about 670 million kilometers (≈410 million miles) from the Sun, inside Jupiter’s orbit, as it traveled toward the inner Solar System . Its nucleus (core) is estimated to be less than 1 km across, though images set an upper bound at ~5.6 km . It features a coma—a glowing envelope of dust and gas—and a growing tail as it nears the Sun and heats up, triggering sublimation of volatiles . 

Observations by top telescopes Hubble Space Telescope captured detailed images of the coma and nucleus on July 21, 2025, revealing its teardrop shape and measuring its size constraints . James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observed it in early August, finding that the comet is unusually rich in carbon dioxide, with lesser amounts of water vapor, carbon monoxide, and carbonyl sulfide . SPHEREx mission contributed complementary spectral data, confirming the comet’s chemical makeup and comet-like nature . 

Behavior and trajectory As 3I/ATLAS approached the Sun, the heat caused sublimation (solid ice directly turning to gas), forming the visible coma and tail. Ground-based telescopes like Gemini South captured the tail’s growth by late August 2025 . It is expected to make its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) around late October 2025, between Earth’s and Mars’s orbits. It will subsequently head out toward Jupiter's region by March 2026 and then out into interstellar space again . 

Scientific significance This is only the third interstellar object discovered, making it very rare and valuable for science. Its very high eccentricity and speed distinguish it from its predecessors—‘Oumuamua (e≈1.2) and Borisov (e≈3.4) . The comet’s carbon dioxide richness is among the highest ever measured in a comet, offering clues about the nature of its home star system and the processes that shaped it . 

Speculation and public interest Some scientists, notably Avi Loeb, have raised speculative ideas about whether 3I/ATLAS could be artificial or technological in origin, though mainstream consensus leans toward a natural comet explanation . Public figures have called for enhanced monitoring, including repurposing spacecraft like Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or Juno to observe the object up close, although these remain proposals .   Summary Comparison Topic Description 3i Atlas (tool) A data platform made by 3i Group to track investments, markets, and performance in private equity.

3I/ATLAS (comet) An interstellar comet – the third known object from outside our Solar System, rich in CO₂ and with a hyperbolic path.   Why this matters 3i Atlas demonstrates how financial firms use data to help investors and analysts make informed choices and track sustainable investments. Comet 3I/ATLAS gives astronomers a rare chance to study material formed around another star, helping us learn about the diversity of planetary systems. It also fuels public wonder and curiosity about space.   Final thoughts Whether you're reading about 3i Group’s Atlas platform or gazing at the skies at comet 3I/ATLAS, both show how human tools—whether data tools on Earth or telescopes aimed at the stars—bring clarity, insight, and possibility. If you're interested in business or finance, diving into 3i’s strategy and using Atlas could be a valuable lesson in private equity insights. If you love astronomy or space science, following the story of 3I/ATLAS offers a front-row seat to interstellar discovery.