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Astronomy Picture of the Day - 3I/ATLAS
NASA ^ | 17 Jul, 2025 | Image Credit: Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/K. Meech (IfA/U. Hawaii) Processing: Jen Miller, M

Posted on 07/17/2025 12:24:19 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Discovered on July 1 with the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert, System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS is so designated as the third known interstellar object to pass through our Solar System It follows 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and the comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. Also known as C/2025 N1, 3I/ATLAS is clearly a comet, its diffuse cometary coma, a cloud of gas and dust surrounding an icy nucleus, is easily seen in these images from the large Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawai‘i. The left panel tracks the comet as it moves across the sky against fixed background stars in successive exposures. Three different filters were used, shown in red, green, and blue. In the right panel the multiple exposures are registered and combined to form a single image of the comet. The comet's interstellar origin is also clear from its orbit, determined to be an eccentric, highly hyperbolic orbit that does not loop back around the Sun and will return 3I/ATLAS to interstellar space. Not a threat to planet Earth, the inbound interstellar interloper is now within the Jupiter's orbital distance of the Sun, while its closest approach to the Sun will bring it just within the orbital distance of Mars.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: 3iatlas; apod; astronomy; comet; nasa; science

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 07/17/2025 12:24:19 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 07/17/2025 12:24:45 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 07/17/2025 12:25:52 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

We are okay as long as it doesn’t slow down...................


4 posted on 07/17/2025 12:49:26 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

I hear ya….


5 posted on 07/17/2025 2:18:46 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: MtnClimber

Pinnnggg


6 posted on 07/17/2025 5:42:14 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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