Astronomers have confirmed the arrival of 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever spotted in our solar system. First seen on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey team in Chile, it was quickly identified by its unusual hyperbolic orbit and comet-like tail. Larger and brighter than either 1I/ʻOumuamua or 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is estimated to be about 15 kilometers in diameter. Scientists plan to analyze its light for chemical clues to its star system of origin. Unlike its predecessors, 3I/ATLAS will be easier to observe, giving astronomers a rare chance to directly study material from another part of the galaxy. It poses no threat to Earth but holds tremendous scientific value.
