Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches Earth On Dec 19: What We Know And How You Might Spot It

Comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar visitor, is gearing up for its closest pass by Earth on December 19, 2025. Even though it will still be far out on the opposite side of the sun, its arrival has sparked excitement among scientists and skywatchers around the world. This comet has been behaving strangely enough to raise eyebrows, yet predictably enough for experts to confirm that we’re witnessing a natural phenomenon, not an alien detour. Here's everything you need to know before the cosmic show unfolds.What Makes Comet 3I/ATLAS So Unusual?Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third object in recorded history to enter our solar system from another star system, which already places it in a different league. As it travels through space, astronomers have

watched its colour shift, its tail appear and disappear, and its brightness fluctuate. These changes have triggered wild speculation online, but researchers at NASA and other space agencies insist its behaviour lines up with what we know about energetic, icy interstellar objects.Despite the curiosity it has stirred, the comet poses zero threat to Earth. NASA estimates that it will remain about 270 million kilometres away at closest approach, well beyond any danger zone. Several spacecraft, including ESA’s Juice mission and probes orbiting Mars, have already caught glimpses of the visitor during its long journey inward.Adding to the intrigue, Japanese scientists recently reported that the comet is emitting X-rays. While that sounds dramatic, it’s not unusual. As sunlight heats the comet, gases form a cloud around its nucleus. When this cloud collides with charged particles rushing from the sun, it produces a type of X-ray glow, a phenomenon known as charge-exchange emission.ALSO READ: NASA Lets You Send Your Name To Moon For Free: Step-By-Step Guide To Join Artemis II 2026Will You Be Able To See It From India?For now, there's no confirmation on whether observers in India will get a clear view. What’s certain is that the comet won’t be visible to the naked eye anywhere. Its faintness means you’ll need a telescope with a large eight-inch aperture to even attempt spotting it. Those with powerful instruments are advised to watch during the early predawn hours, when the skies are darkest and the comet’s slow movement is easiest to pick up.NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System” tool and several telescope-tracking apps can help hobby astronomers follow its path. But catching sight of it will still demand a bit of patience and probably a warm beverage.A Cosmic Visitor Passing ThroughComet 3I/ATLAS will stay within range of observatories for a few months before heading back out into interstellar space, likely never to return. For astronomers, it’s a rare chance to study material that formed around another star. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder that our solar system is far from isolated, and occasionally, visitors from the wider galaxy drift close enough for us to notice.