What's Happening?
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have released new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it approaches its closest encounter with Earth. The comet, traveling at approximately 130,000 mph, will pass about 170 million miles from Earth on December
19. The images, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, show the comet's bright and active state as it releases gas and dust.
Why It's Important?
The observation of 3I/ATLAS provides valuable data on interstellar objects, which are rare and offer insights into the composition and behavior of celestial bodies from outside our solar system. This event allows scientists to study the comet's physical characteristics and its interaction with solar radiation. The findings could enhance our understanding of the early solar system and the processes that govern cometary activity.
