Online Viewing Opportunity for Celestial Visitor
Skywatchers have a unique chance to observe a rare interstellar comet through a live online telescope feed. The Virtual Telescope Project will provide free real-time views of comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes near Earth.
The broadcast is scheduled for 11 p.m. EST on December 19 (0400 GMT on December 20), weather conditions permitting. Observations will come from robotic telescopes located in Manciano, Italy.
Comet's Close Approach Details
Comet 3I/ATLAS reached its nearest point to our planet at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) on December 19. During this approach, the celestial object was approximately 1.8 astronomical units from Earth, equivalent to about 168 million miles (270 million kilometers).
This distance is nearly double the average separation between Earth and the sun.
Scientific Significance of the Discovery
First detected in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey system, this comet represents only the third confirmed interstellar object observed traversing our solar system. It follows previous detections of 1I/'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
Astronomers are particularly interested in studying its composition and characteristics, which may provide valuable insights into planetary formation processes around distant stars.
Viewing Challenges and Alternatives
The comet remains too dim for naked-eye observation and presents difficulties even for modest amateur telescopes. Under optimal dark sky conditions, observers using telescopes with apertures of 8 inches or larger might detect it as a faint, diffuse glow.
For those unable to observe directly, the online livestream offers a convenient alternative to witness this astronomical event from home.
Editor's note: This article was updated December 18 at 11 p.m. EST to inform readers that the Virtual Telescope Project's livestream of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has been delayed one day due to rain at the observation site. It is now scheduled for Friday, December 19, at 11 p.m. EST (0400 GMT).
