NASA is set to release never-before-seen high-resolution photos of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on November 19. This will be the first time images captured over the past few months by NASA’s space and ground telescopes, as well as spacecraft orbiting other planets, are unveiled to the public.
The comet 3I/ATLAS, which was first spotted in July, originally came from outside our solar system. It is only the third known interstellar object to travel through Earth’s cosmic neighborhood, making it a rare and fascinating subject for astronomers worldwide.
How to Watch NASA’s Live Event
NASA will host a live event at 3 p.m. Eastern Time from its Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The agency will stream the event online, allowing viewers around the globe to tune in and witness the new images simultaneously.
You can watch the live stream through NASA’s official streaming app, NASA+, which is available on platforms such as YouTube and the agency’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The event is also accessible on Amazon Prime, while Netflix is not promoting this particular broadcast.
What is 3I/ATLAS?
The comet was first detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), a NASA-funded project. Traveling at about 137,000 miles per hour, 3I/ATLAS was confirmed to have an origin beyond our solar system based on its speed and trajectory.
Scientists believe 3I/ATLAS has been wandering interstellar space for potentially billions of years before it entered our solar system. Its path came from the general direction of the constellation Sagittarius, located near the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
Upcoming Close Approach
3I/ATLAS will make its closest pass to Earth on December 19, coming within approximately 170 million miles, which is roughly twice the distance from Earth to the sun. This safe distance means there is no risk of an impact with our planet.
Earlier in October, the comet passed within 19 million miles of Mars and around 130 million miles from the sun. These observations provide scientists with valuable data on the comet’s behavior and composition.
NASA’s photographic reveal will deepen understanding of interstellar visitors like 3I/ATLAS and engage the public with firsthand views of an object from beyond our solar system. The upcoming livestream offers a rare opportunity to witness the latest discoveries as they happen.
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