NASA's SPHEREx Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightening
NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has observed significant changes in the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed through the solar system. Discovered in July 2025, the comet exhibited a dramatic outburst of gas, dust, and complex molecules in December 2025, months after its closest approach to the sun. This surge in brightness is attributed to delayed sublimation, where subsurface ices warm and erupt into space. The observations revealed the presence of organic molecules such as methanol, cyanide, and methane, which are crucial for understanding the building blocks of life. 
