What's Happening?
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revisited the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using its Wide Field Camera 3. The comet, currently 178 million miles from Earth, was first observed by Hubble in July 2025.
As 3I/ATLAS travels through the solar system, NASA is utilizing multiple missions to study this rare interstellar object before it exits the solar system. The observations aim to gather as much data as possible about the comet's composition and trajectory, contributing to the understanding of objects originating from outside our solar system.
Why It's Important?
The study of interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS provides valuable insights into the composition and behavior of celestial bodies from beyond our solar system. These observations can enhance scientific understanding of the universe's formation and the potential for similar objects to impact Earth. The continued monitoring of 3I/ATLAS by Hubble and other NASA missions underscores the importance of international collaboration in space exploration and the need for advanced technology to capture fleeting astronomical phenomena.
