Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS to Pass Earth in December, But Won’t Be Visible to Naked Eye in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO – An interstellar comet, designated 3I/ATLAS, will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19th, 2025, but stargazers in brazil – and worldwide – shouldn’t expect a breathtaking show. Despite being a rare visitor from outside our solar system, the comet will remain a faint object, not visible without specialized equipment.
The comet, only the third interstellar object ever detected, will be approximately 270 million kilometers (167 million miles) from Earth at its closest point.According to astronomer José de Arimateia Zurita, this distance, combined with the cometS trajectory far from the Sun, means it won’t experience significant heating or increased activity, resulting in a “very discreet passage in the sky.”
While not a naked-eye spectacle, 3I/ATLAS is generating significant interest within the scientific community. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has designated the comet as the target of a global observation campaign running from November 27, 2025, to January 27, 2026. The goal is to precisely track its trajectory and analyze its composition.
Observing 3I/ATLAS presents challenges due to its diffuse cloud and tail,making accurate measurements of its position and size tough. telescopes across the globe will participate in coordinated data collection to overcome thes hurdles and refine observation protocols, ultimately contributing to planetary defense efforts should a future comet pose a collision risk. The comet is estimated to be only a few kilometers in length.
