3I/ATLAS Update: UN โคConfirmsโฃ Comet Is Subject Of Formal Planetary-Defenseโ Exercise
The United Nations, through the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), has formally confirmed that the interstellar comet โ3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) will be โฃthe focus of a meaningful planetary-defence exercise. The campaign, designed to refine โฃastrometricโข measurement techniques, will run โฃfrom โNovember 27,โข 2025,โ through January โ27, 2026.
While 3I/ATLAS currently poses no threat to Earth – its closestโ approach on Decemberโ 19, 2025, will be approximately 270 million kilometers – itsโค unique characteristics make it an ideal test case.The exercise aims to improve the accuracy of predicting the trajectories ofโข comets, which presentโฃ distinct challenges compared to asteroids.
According to โa Minor Planet Electronic Circular (M.P.E.C.2025-U142) issued by theโ International astronomical UnionS Minor โPlanet Center,comets are “extended bodies featuring โcomae and tails” that can โฃ”systematically pull centroid measurements off their central brightnessโ peak,makingโ trajectory estimation more complex.” This means determining โa comet’s precise position is more difficult than with a point-like asteroid.
The campaign’s core objective is to introduce and refine “methods for improving astrometry from cometโค observations.” โThis practise is considered crucial for โensuring the global astronomical community can rapidly and โฃaccurately assess the trajectory โand potential impact probability of any future, possibly hazardous โNear-earth Object.
The IAWN announced โขthe observing window will span two months, allowing โfor a comprehensive exercise of international capabilities. A preparatory workshop wasโ held to align participants on objectives and methodologies.
key dates for the โค3I/ATLAS Comet Astrometry โคCampaign are as follows:
* Registration Deadline: November 7, 2025,โข 17:00โ UTC
* Comet Astrometry Workshop: November 10, 2025, 15:00โข UTC
* Kick-Off Email Notification: Novemberโข 25, 2025
* Observing Window Opens: November 27, 2025
* Mid-Campaign Check-In: December 9, 2025, 15:00 UTC
* Observing Window Closes: January 27, 2026
* Close-Out telecon: February 3, 2026, 15:00 UTC
This exercise โis โขa demonstration of global preparedness, stress-testing the systems designedโฃ to protectโ Earth from potential future threats.โ The work also strengthens collaboration between space agencies (through โthe Space Mission Planning โคAdvisory Group – SMPAG) and the diplomatic โฃarm of the United Nations (theโข United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs -โ UNOOSA), highlighting planetary defenceโ asโฃ aโค continuous andโ coordinated international effort.
[Image of 3I/ATLAS with caption: 3I/ATLAS. Paul Craggs/X]
[Embedded YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ejDvp3UvQ]