Rare Comet 3I/ATLAS to Make Closest Approach to Sun, Sparks Scientific debate
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – October 29, 2023 – A newly discovered comet, 3I/ATLAS, will reach its closest point to the Sun today, offering a rare viewing opportunity for observers in Latin America and fueling a debate among scientists about its origins. Discovered on July 1, 2023, by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact System telescope in Chile, 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object detected passing through our solar system, following 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
The comet is currently traveling at approximately 221,000 kilometers per hour and is expected to accelerate as it nears the Sun.Its closest approach to the Sun will occur at 11:33 UTC today, October 29th. For observers in Colombia and Venezuela, this translates to visibility between 6:33 AM and 12:33 PM local time.
while NASA has confirmed the object possesses an icy core and coma, classifying it as a comet, the unusual trajectory of 3I/ATLAS has prompted speculation. Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has suggested the object could be an extraterrestrial probe, stating, “the next 24 to 48 hours are all… If 3l/ATLAS is a probe or a ship, this will be the time and place to act… We are literally hours away from knowing if we are alone.”
Due to its faint brightness,scientists recommend using a telescope with a minimum aperture of 7.6 centimeters for optimal viewing.
NASA will be broadcasting the comet’s passage live using the Hubble and James Webb telescopes. Live streams will also be available from the Virtual telescope Project and the San Pedro Mártir National Astronomical Observatory. Further data and a real-time visualization of the comet’s trajectory can be found at https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/#/c_2025_n1?rate=0&time=2025-10-23T14:52:02.346+00:00.
