Comet 3I/Atlas to Make Closest Approach to earth on December 19
A recently detected comet, designated 3I/Atlas (also known as C/2025 N1), is currently traversing the solar system and will reach its maximum proximity to Earth on December 19th. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, alongside data from ESA and CSA, reveal the comet is unusually rich in carbon dioxide and contains traces of ice, water vapor, and other elements – perhaps offering insights into the early solar system.
Scientists beleive 3I/Atlas may be one of the oldest comets yet observed. While its nucleus measures between 0.32 and 5.6 kilometers (0.2 to 3.5 miles) in diameter, with a most likely size just under 1 kilometer, the comet’s approach presents a rare possibility for study. Its closest approach to the Sun will occur at the end of October, at a distance of 1.36 AU (203 million kilometers or 125 million miles). Following its solar perihelion, 3I/Atlas will then swing closest to Earth on December 19th, according to Noirlab, operated by the National Science Foundation.
